Adaptive Leadership Skills: What's Needed Today

We’re living in a time of radical, constant change — in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To keep up, you need a shift in mindset, and you need a unique combination of new skills and behaviors that can equip you with the expertise to execute and lead in any context.

Work has gotten more complex, priorities are shifting more rapidly, and team collaboration has become more common — and more critical. Meanwhile, you’re facing increasing pressure to help boost the bottom line, meet tightening deadlines, and expand your team’s ability to deliver innovative work, maintain compliance, and outpace the competition.

The shifting world of work now increasingly demands:
• Developing new, relevant skills to be more effective
• Leading a team — motivating people to work smarter, mentoring and coaching them, and helping them navigate through ambiguity without losing focus
• Managing and getting buy-in from key stakeholders — building and nurturing relationships
• Understanding how the external environment can quickly change strategic priorities and alter the course of your work

This unique combination of challenges demands a shift in the types of skills we should be building. Instead of only focusing on the tactical or relational skills required to drive work forward, leaders now need an extra layer: the skills and mindset to lead projects and execute work in ambiguous and unpredictable environments.