10 Essential Leadership Skills For Tomorrow’s Leaders

Here are the top ten traits the next generation of

leaders will need to possess:

1. Optimistic perspective – Optimistic leaders harbour

the attitudes and behaviours that predict success.
They have a growth mindset which focuses on
Leadership has progressively shifted towards creative solutions to confront challenges and
incorporating emotional intelligence within its adversity rather than being hindered by prospective
framework over the years. Understanding, trusting setbacks. They have a positive view of the future and
and empathizing with employees has been placed on a take a big picture position. However, optimism doesn’t
higher pedestal than ever before, and it will continue end with how leaders think, optimistic leaders are
to rise as the years go by. better communicators and skilled at using language to
connect, motivate and inspire the people around
Scientific studies have demonstrated that people’s them. They value collaboration and are inclusive in
daily emotions, mindset and perspectives significantly their decision-making process, striking a balance
impact and predict their overall performance, between workforce empowerment and risk control.
productivity and success. The leaders of the future
will prioritise their workforce and strive to educate 2. Strengths focused – Leaders will understand how
themselves about the advantages a healthy and to identify, leverage and align individual strengths
collaborative working environment can have on the with their roles and responsibilities. Focus will be
business they work in shifted towards where an individual excels and
embracing their best skills to add value, rather than
having a negative outlook on their weaker skills. This 5. Change leadership – The only constant in business draw out other’s ideas and be consistent in their
type of leadership has been shown to have a greater is change. Leaders of the future will be equipped to communication. Ensuring what they say and do are
impact on employees’ motivation, engagement and predict, navigate and sustain positive change. Leading inline
success. Some studies showed that the difference through business transformation is a crucial skill that
between weakness focused as opposed to strengths has the potential to dictate success or failure. Change 8. Feedback - Leaders of the future should not just be
focused leaders is up to 50% in productivity and open to feedback, they must seek it out, welcome it
leadership requires a clear vision, senior alignment and
performance. and grow from it. Self-awareness is where great
buy in, clearly defined roles and commitments and
leadership starts, to get an accurate perception of
continued momentum. opportunities to grow and develop they need to know
3. Lead with purpose – The greatest leaders start with
why. They understand the importance of creating how to effectively receive feedback. This can be
meaning and purpose for individuals, teams and the 6. Resilience - A resilient leader sees failures as easier said than done, therefore leaders need to
entire organisation. Leading with purpose creates temporary, they ask the right questions to bounce create an environment of open dialogue, ask for
more engaged employees and improved business back quickly and maintain a positive attitude and a specifics, mitigate concerns about honest feedback
results. Business theorists predict that meaning is the strong sense of opportunity during adversity. They and emit a genuine desire to learn, improve and better
new money that employees are searching for in jobs, find a way to move forward, not only to get back on understand themselves.
Studies have demonstrated that people’s daily emotions, mindset
and perspectives significantly impact and predict their overall careers and roles. Having purpose at work is one of track but often to thrive through difficulty. To cope
performance, productivity and success the biggest predictors of commitment and success. with disruption and constant change, leaders need to 9. Coachable – Excellent leaders have high learning
agility, they actively seek out ways they can realise
be able to absorb complex change and help others
Positive psychology is already currently being 4. Innovation – Gone are the days where “this is how their potential. Coachable leaders are curious about
move forward to achieve success.
we’ve always done it” is an acceptable strategy to themselves and about others, they prioritise action
implemented across leading organsations, this is not
success. The companies of the future will lead with and hold themselves accountable. This requires them
just a temporary trend or fad. It is here to stay. 7. Positive communication - Excellent communication
innovation, they will challenge status quo and make to have the courage to be vulnerable, accepting when
room for a climate of creativity. This requires leaders and leadership go hand in hand. To exceed in any they are wrong and areas they are weaker at.
It focuses on individual strength, mindset and capacity, leaders must understand the intricacies and Coachable leaders are authentic and personify trust,
who are prepared to think differently, embrace agility
perspective. It is centered around self-awareness, and draw out innovative thinking in those they lead. complexity of effective communication. Balancing commitment and dedication to self-development.
personal development and understanding what makes They will develop a culture of innovation as appose to relentless communication with the ability to simplify
people thrive and realise their full potential. just hiring a few creative outliers. the complex is essential. They must also know how
 A unique leadership programme that combines
experiential learning with real-world practice to
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10. Succession planning – Great leaders develop Arguably businesses should spend a third of their time
leaders. They identify high potential employees early investing in, developing, honing and growing the
on, and ensure the right people are being moved and leaders of tomorrow.
developed into the right roles. They invest the time in
cultivating the leaders of tomorrow and focus on Responsive, compassionate, ethical and competent
potential not just performance. leadership is the key. Those who can balance their
strengths, kindness, decisiveness and creativity will
Organisations need to make leadership development be the ones to prosper and gain the support of teams
an absolute priority. A recent survey from Gallup and stakeholders alike.
stated that only one in ten people naturally possess all
these skills. Therefore it is essential for future leaders Essentially everything in an organisation can be
to invest the time, efforts and resources in equipping copied except one thing, the unique culture and DNA
future leaders to thrive in today’s highly competitive of your people.
landscape. For an overall more efficient and
productive workforce which will help accelerate the Therefore it is essential for businesses to have leaders
rate at which a business reaches its goals, a leader who are prepared to give their all, to continue to grow
who empowers, trusts, connects and cares about his balance understanding business and people.
team is needed.

Leaders at every level need to accept the world is

changing constantly and rapidly. For any organisation
to remain effective, the single most valuable
Everything in an organisation can be copied except one thing, the investment for them to make today is in the
unique culture and DNA of your people.
development of the leaders of tomorrow.

That investment embraces the increase in

interconnection and interdependence. Now is the
time to stop focusing solely on margins, shareholders
and tasks and to accept that effective business and
leadership is about people.