In a world defined by volatility, rapid change, and increasing digital disconnection, many organizations are asking the same question: What kind of leadership do we need now?

The answer may not lie in new technology or performance metrics — but in something profoundly human.

In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, executive coach and founder of the Center for Modern Workforce Strategy, Marisa Leigh Valente, introduces us to the powerful concept of warm leadership. More than just empathy in action, warm leadership is about presence, resonance, and creating the kind of trust-filled environments where creativity, vulnerability, and growth can truly thrive.

Merging Strength with Care

Traditional leadership models, rooted in control, compliance, and structure, were forged in the industrial era. But as Marisa points out, “We’re not building widgets anymore. We’re facilitating creative potential.” Warm leadership acknowledges that people don’t produce their best work in fear-based environments. They flourish when leaders lead not just with direction — but with intention.

Warm leadership isn’t about being nice. It’s about showing up fully. It’s about creating psychological safety. And it’s about building cultures where strength and compassion coexist.

Holding Space, Not Just Power

One of the most resonant metaphors Marisa shared was the idea of “defrosting.” Just as warm water brings frozen hands back to life, warm leadership melts rigidity and opens people up. It’s not about command — it’s about catalyzing.

Unlike soft power, which is often strategic and persuasive, warm leadership is immersive. It’s less about directing outcomes and more about creating conditions where greatness can emerge naturally. It’s in the way we show up, the way we listen, and how much of our hearts we’re willing to share at work.

As Marisa shared, “You can’t measure it in a spreadsheet — but you can feel it.”

Resonance Over ROI

While businesses often look for measurable outcomes to validate new approaches, warm leadership calls for a different lens. ROI isn’t irrelevant — but when the focus becomes solely numeric, we miss the deeper, more transformative impact of connection.

The good news? There’s growing evidence that warmth drives performance. Empathetic companies outperform their counterparts, see higher retention, and attract top talent. But the bigger payoff may be cultural. As Mike Liwski noted, “People don’t just want to be led — they want to be seen, understood, and inspired.”

Leading Remote and Hybrid Teams with Warmth

In an increasingly remote and hybrid work world, many leaders worry about how to maintain connection. But Marisa reminds us that warmth is not tied to physical presence. It’s felt through energy, intention, and authenticity.

Presence isn’t about proximity — it’s about attention.

Whether it’s a video call, a Slack message, or a shared moment in a virtual meeting, leaders have endless opportunities to “be with” their teams — if they’re willing to show up fully.

Rebuilding Trust, Redefining Leadership

When leaders shift from control to curation, the initial response from teams is often skepticism. Can this warmth be trusted? Is this change real?

The answer, Marisa says, lies in consistency. Building trust means depositing “marbles in the jar” every day — small acts of care, integrity, and follow-through. And just as trust can be built, it can be easily lost. Leadership today demands emotional fluency and the humility to own mistakes and stay present.

The Emerging Workforce Wants More

Perhaps the most urgent reason to embrace warm leadership? The next generation demands it.

Younger employees are hungry for meaning, mentoring, and emotional intelligence. They’re uninterested in top-down control but deeply invested in learning and self-awareness. They want to grow — and they want leaders who are evolving, too.

As Marisa wisely notes, “You can’t lead a generation of self-aware people unless you’re willing to be self-aware yourself.”

Final Thoughts: From Performance to Presence

The future of leadership isn’t about bigger KPIs or tighter controls — it’s about resonance. Warm leadership doesn’t abandon accountability — it reframes it through a lens of care, trust, and humanity.

It asks leaders to stop managing from above and start showing up beside.

And in doing so, it unlocks something extraordinary: workplaces where people don’t just work — they belong.

If that sounds like a business worth building, you’ll want to listen to this episode.

Check out our full conversation with Marisa Leigh Valente on The Bliss Business Podcast.

Originally Featured on The Bliss Business Podcast Blog