Title: Happy leadership, now more than ever

Authors: Gustavo A. Díaz-García; Marta Ortiz-de-Urbina-Criado; Rafael Ravina-Ripoll

Addresses: Escuela de Administración, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, Avenida 1 Calle 9 Campus, Omar Dengo, Heredia, Costa Rica ' Departamento de Economía de la Empresa (Admi., Dir. y Org.), Economía Aplicada II y Fundamentos de Análisis Económico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Economía y de la Empresa, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Paseo de los Artilleros s/n, 28032 Madrid, Spain ' Departamento de Organización de Empresas, Facultad Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad de Cádiz, Av. de la Universidad No. 4, 11406 Jerez, Cádiz, Spain

Abstract: The Covid-19 crisis demonstrated the need for new leadership styles suited to times of economic uncertainty. Today, leadership in organisations is less humanistic and inspirational and more authoritarian. More management models should be promoted based on ethics, corporate happiness and social responsibility. This research reflects on the type of leadership suited to the new era. It explores the concept of happy leadership and analyses its characteristics. This construct combines the rational and emotional minds of those who lead. It seeks to exercise actions that help reduce stress, frustration, and fear, improving wellbeing to optimise work performance. Thinking, feeling and doing from a happiness management approach supports people's vision from an organisational and emotional perspective by developing aspects such as creativity, flexibility and sustainability. Happy leadership promotes new models of integral management through changes in corporate culture, helping to reconcile productive efficiency with business ethics, entrepreneurship, organisational justice and happiness at work.

Keywords: leadership; happiness; happiness at work; human resources; happy employees.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2024.137967

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2024 Vol.8 No.3, pp.223 - 243

Received: 16 Jun 2023
Accepted: 06 Sep 2023
Published online: 15 Apr 2024 *

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