How to Develop Leadership Skills in Young People Through Role-Play
Author:
Aleksandra Prokopijević
Creative Station
Why is Empathy Essential for the New Generation of Leaders?
In a world where young people grow up facing social inequality, mental pressure, and digital overload, it is becoming increasingly clear that traditional models of leadership are no longer sufficient. New leaders – especially those from Generation Z – need to develop empathy as a core skill. This is why the project EmLead – Empathy-Driven Leadership: A Role-Playing for Gen Z Development was launched. It offers young people the opportunity to develop emotional and leadership competencies through role-playing methods, empowering them for inclusive and responsible action in society.
What is Empathic Leadership – and Why Should Young People Develop It?
Emphatic ledership involves ability to:
understand others’ feelings and perspectives,
build trust and team cohesion,
make decisions that include all participants.
These skills are not innate – they are developed through experience and reflection. And this is where role-play comes into play.
Role-Play as a Tool for Developing LeadershipWithin the EmLead project, role-play is used as a method that:
places young people in real-life situations: conflicts, dilemmas, team challenges;
develops their reactions through experience rather than theory;
enables reflection and personal insight after each activity.
Each scenario in the EmLead methodology includes:
a concrete topic (e.g. peer violence, marginalization, intercultural conflict),
clearly defined roles,
reflective exercises after the simulation,
flexibility to adapt to the participants’ context.
What Does a Typical EmLead Workshop Look Like?
Introduction to the topic – discussion on key concepts, values, and emotions.
Role assignment and simulation – participants “step into others’ shoes” and tackle a challenge.
Reflection and discussion – participants share their feelings, dilemmas, and insights.
Application – the facilitator guides a conversation on how the experience can be transferred to daily life, relationships, and engagement.
Practical Example: SALTO Tool for Building EmpathyFor additional inspiration, we recommend the SALTO tool Empathy Building Activities for Youth – a set of workshops that can be used as an introduction to EmLead trainings. They include exercises for active listening, understanding non-verbal communication, and seeing from others’ perspectives.
