Leading with the heart: the science of oxytocin behind great leaders

The challenges facing today’s leaders are great, because in addition to the incessant search for results and performance, they have to deal with teams in a disruptive world that causes anxieties, anguish and, ultimately, emotional imbalances.

This requires that leaders also know how to deal with these situations and be what we call a ‘vitamin leader’, i.e. a person who generates closeness and a feeling of closeness with their team, both in the way they are and in the way they think and relate to them.

How aware are our leaders of the importance of keeping their teams feeling young? How much do they exploit others’ humour, contagious smiles, capacity for wonder and willingness to learn? All of this helps to secrete oxytocin in those who interact with them.

Oxytocin, known as the hormone of hugs, of bonding, is the hormone that combats cortisol, which appears in moments of stress, alertness or threats. It is present in aspects such as empathy, trust and altruistic behaviour. And it influences our decision-making, although it doesn’t determine our behaviour.

If we teach our leaders to have positive behaviours, they will generate trust and kindness among their teams, and this will open up new opportunities for them.

The home office, so widespread after the pandemic, has helped in this complex time we are experiencing, but it has also greatly damaged social relationships. When trust levels are high in a company, the oxytocin that is generated allows productive and efficient teams to be formed more quickly.

Paul J. Zak, an American economist specialising in the interrelationships between business and the emotional world, comments that leaders need two tools to get the most out of their teams: trust between team members and an understanding of the purpose of what they are doing. Good social health among the team stimulates and improves productivity, so it is essential to create healthy environments in companies to stimulate efficiency and results, while making people happier.

Having leaders with a human quality, who are enthusiastic and put passion and purpose into their work, is fundamental to achieving good results.

Leaders who provoke competitive and toxic relationships only cause losses in organisations.
Remember, human relationships strengthen or weaken us as an organisation. It’s up to us to decide what kind of relationships we want for our organisation. And leaders have a lot to do with it.

Think about it. What kind of leaders do we have vs. what kind of leaders do we want in our organisation?