The Rise of Dove Leaders: Why Empathy Is Redefining Leadership

In our fast-paced world, where the pace of change keeps getting faster, one would think that Eagles and Parrots would dominate leadership roles. And for decades, they did. When I first started working with the DISC model in 1994, many C-suite executives embodied the classic Eagle style—decisive, competitive, driven.

That hasn’t changed. But over the past 30 years, I’ve observed that more Doves are stepping into key leadership roles.

And they are thriving.

 Why Dove Leaders Fit Today’s Workforce

As Baby Boomers and early Gen X retire, Gen Z is entering the workforce in massive numbers. This generation places high value on culture, mental health, authenticity, and purpose.

Within the DISC personality styles, every style offers strengths.

🦅 Eagles drive results.
🦜 Parrots energize and inspire.
🦉 Owls create clarity and structure.
🕊 Doves cultivate trust and cohesion.

But if there is one style that naturally focuses on culture, it’s the Doves. They prioritize psychological safety. They consider how decisions impact people. They monitor trust. They pay attention to tone, not just outcomes.

While some leaders push for results, Dove leaders shape an environment that sustains those results.

Dove Leadership in Action

You can see this approach in several well-known CEOs.

Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo: Nooyi mixed care with clarity. She paid close attention to people, culture, and long-term well-being while making tough strategic decisions. Her leadership balanced humanity with shareholder expectations. Loyalty and performance followed.

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple: Cook leads with steadiness and inclusion rather than force or flash. He amplifies diverse voices, empowers teams, and builds trust through consistency. Under his watch, Apple’s strength reflects alignment and quiet confidence.

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft: Nadella shifted Microsoft’s emotional tone. He made empathy a leadership expectation. Psychological safety became a catalyst for innovation. Collaboration replaced internal competition. Growth followed culture.

Howard Schultz, Founder and former CEO of Starbucks: Schultz regarded culture as sacred. He called employees partners and supported this name with investments in healthcare, education, and equity. His people-first approach fostered loyalty and a shared identity that fueled expansion.

The shift isn’t about one style replacing another. It’s about what the moment demands. In today’s world, emotional stability is crucial. In multigenerational workplaces, belonging is essential.

Dove leaders excel in all three areas.

Looking Ahead

The next era of leadership won’t belong to those who speak the loudest. It will belong to those who build environments where people feel safe, supported, and connected to meaningful work.

As Gen Z continues shaping workplace expectations, we will likely see more leaders whose strength derives from empathy, stability, and culture-building.

​About the Author
Merrick Rosenberg is the author of Personality Intelligence: Master the Art of Being You, The Chameleon, and many other books for adults, students, and kids. He is the creator of the Eagle, Parrot, Dove, and Owl personality approach. As an award-winning speaker and President of Take Flight Learning, Merrick teaches people how to understand themselves and others through the lens of personality, because when you know your style, you unlock your path.