Perceção dos colaboradores sobre o papel da liderança empática

: estudo de caso Auchan Retail Portugal

Abstract

Empathy perfects the relationships between leaders and their subordinates, and therefore it`s essential in a XXI century leader. The results of an internal survey conducted by the organization and the direct observation made during my internship at Auchan showed that, in the fresh products sector, the perception of the concept of empathy was imprecise for most employees, which reflects in the relationship with the leader. Therefore, I made a qualitative case study about employee`s perception of the role of empathic leadership. The main method of collecting information used was the interview with the followers and leaders, in order to obtain more information about this problem. To do so, I started by reviewing the literature on the concept of leadership, the role of the leader and his qualities, the different leadership styles, emotional intelligence and, finally, empathy. In the analysis and interpretation of the interviews, I confirmed that leaders recognize and value empathic leadership, applying it daily. Most followers do not know the correct meaning of the concept of empathy, however, they perceive it in the actions of leaders and recognize its importance. Bakery and Fishmonger are the markets that have the most difficulties in recognizing their leaders. To solve this finding, I presented suggestions for improvement with the aim of creating a healthier organizational environment in order to get better relations between hierarchies and the achievement of better results for Auchan.

Date of Award	14 Jul 2022
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Marisa Tavares (Supervisor)