The impact of self-awareness, empathy, and social skill on self-leadership among Generation Z in Malaysia

Lee, Yan and Loo , Xin Yu (2026) The impact of self-awareness, empathy, and social skill on self-leadership among Generation Z in Malaysia. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

In modern organizations, self-leadership is becoming increasingly important, particularly among Generation Z, who are viewed as future leaders. However, issues such as stress, burnout, and low motivation indicate that many still lack sufficient self-leadership. Although previous studies have examined self-leadership in various contexts, research specifically targeting Generation Z in Malaysia remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of self awareness, empathy, and social skills on self-leadership among Generation Z in Malaysia. This study employs the emotional intelligence framework and path-goal theory to test the relationships among these variables. Data were collected via an online questionnaire using convenience sampling, yielding a total of 384 valid responses. The collected data were analysed using SPSS version 31.0, with statistical analysis conducted via multiple linear regression. The results indicate that in Malaysia, self-awareness, empathy, and social skills are closely associated with self-leadership among Generation Z. These findings suggest that emotional intelligence-related competencies are particularly important for enhancing self leadership among young people. Therefore, it is recommended that social organizations, businesses, and policymakers focus more on cultivating these key skills to help Generation Z better manage themselves and develop their self leadership.

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