Our project aimed to: • To consolidate the soft skills of youth leaders (teamwork, communication, decision-making) in order to lead with passion, authenticity and responsibility; • To raise awareness on the issue of toxic leadership, its harmful impact on employees’ health and the further spill over effect on productivity and profit; • To acquire key concepts related to leadership, such as integrity, honesty, adaptability and empathy. • To strengthen participants’ competencies to effectively use digital tools to manage teams (e.g. project management software, profiling team members) • To exchange ideas and good practices linked to leadership between Scandinavian, Mediterranean and Balkan countries (Denmark, Spain, Romania). • To acquaint the participants with the Erasmus + Programme and encourage them to take an active role in the project; • To reinforce the relationship among the organizations and develop new project ideas that could be implemented with the support of the Erasmus + Programme. Furthermore, these came in direct correlation with the general objectives of the Erasmus+ program which is to support lifelong learning, the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training and youth.
The project aimed to strengthen leadership in youth work by enhancing soft skills and professionalism among youth workers. Leadership was identified as essential for directing organizational resources efficiently, achieving goals, and motivating teams toward a shared vision. Effective leaders harnessed individual talents to advance collective objectives, fostering excellence. The project sought to develop leadership that inspired, guided, and supported organizations while avoiding toxic practices. Denmark had ranked second in global happiness (World Happiness Report 2021), while Romania and Spain occupied the 28th and 29th positions, respectively, based on metrics like social support, life expectancy, and GDP. The partners’ needs and goals were identified through focus groups within their organizations. Results revealed that most youth workers experienced leadership prioritizing company goals over employee well-being, leading to work overload, stress, fatigue, and reduced productivity. This partnership shared best practices in leadership and well-being while equipping young leaders with the knowledge and skills to lead authentically, responsibly, and empathetically.