2025 is here, and how we do business is changing at warp speed. Cue the tech revolutions, economic upheaval, and increased scrutiny around sustainability, and you’ve got a pickle on your hands as a leader.
Evolve or die. Grim, we know.
Roughly 45% of CEOs are self-aware enough to believe their businesses won’t survive in the next decade without a reinvention. The situation is even more distressing for smaller firms with less than $100mil in annual revenue. Are you one of them? If so, keep reading for the leadership skills you must look for and cultivate within your organization to succeed over the long haul.
Transformative Leaders Who Can Stay Relevant
In business, it’s common to hear the phrase ‘don’t reinvent the wheel.’ However, sometimes reinvention is necessary, and when your playbook from yesterday is dead in the water, you must be willing to reinvent a new one.
We’re not talking about minor tweaks either; we’re talking about bold ones that reimagine how you do business in a big way. Leaders who can get their teams on board with a new vision and who make innovation an integral part of their company culture will be in a great position to embrace transformation and stay relevant no matter what comes.
Strategic Leaders Who Can Pivot Fast
When conditions in business land are more up in the air than your cat stepping on tinfoil, you’ve got to be fast and agile. Being strategic means you’ve got an innate ability to pivot and adapt to new information, spot opportunities, and jump on them faster than your competitors.
Scenario planning and cross-functional collabs can be a great way for leaders to remain agile and get ahead of market shifts, while still keeping a sharp eye on the long game.
Leaders Who Know How to Harness New Tech
Blockchain, AI, generative AI, LLMs, oh my! Tech is doing way more than disrupting the system; it’s rewriting the rules of business. You need visionary leaders who can look beyond the buzzwords to grasp how these different technologies work and drive both risk and value.
Roughly 68% of CEOs, according to PwC, are convinced generative AI will change the way value is created within the next three years. If you don’t have people like this in your organization, partner with some savvy techies who can help you integrate this stuff into your strategy. Also, don’t skimp on cyber security. Trust is paramount.
Leaders Who Possess High Emotional Intelligence
It’s not just attractive in a personal relationship; it’s also attractive in workplaces. Those leaders will not only be able to foster strong team connections but also build loyalty and a more positive office culture.
If you’re doing anything remote or hybrid, EQ is necessary because challenges can get more complex. Though you might think of empathy as a soft skill, it’s like glue. Features of high EQ- making open communication a priority, actively listening, and giving your team members credit when it’s due.
Leaders Who Know How to Be Inclusive
Though sometimes it might feel like inclusion and diversity are just ticking a box, it’s not. Building a team with different life views and perspectives makes good business sense.
If you want to be a business on the frontlines of innovation and make better decisions faster, make sure you’re bringing a solid mix of voices to the table. And if you’re not, it might be time to make some changes.
Leaders Who Grasp ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Initiatives
Sustainability is key to opening the doors to more opportunities, attracting the right customers, and creating a strong brand presence. Therefore, leaders and boards who understand ESG and use it to glean strategic decision-making insights are vital. And if you don’t currently have leaders who do this, start mining for the gems!
Resilient Leaders and Crisis-Ready
PwC informs us that blind spots happen when there is an overconfidence in risk management. You need a strong, healthy crisis plan in place, with leaders who prepare for the worst, not just react. There are many risks, including disruptions that occur from climate catastrophes to cyber ones.
You just never know, and leaders need to be ready to act fast, no matter the situation. Be transparent with stakeholders, make sure your crisis plan is updated, and assess risks on a regular basis.
In 2025 and beyond, building skills like this into the DNA of your leadership team is just good business. Do it, and you won’t just be surviving in the next decade but defining the next decade ahead of the pack.
