Five Critical Leadership Skills in Today’s Workplace

Leaders and their employees naturally see things differently. Differing roles, responsibilities, and experiences lend unique perspectives. The risk, however, is that the organization becomes a ship on stormy seas – the captain confidently steering the ship from the bridge while the team below deck experiences every crashing wave, wondering if the ship will hold together. In today’s workplace, employees often experience the tumultuous changes of technology and shifting job landscapes differently than their leaders.

According to a recent report on AI at work by BCG, front-line workers have significantly less confidence (33%) and more anxiety (22%) towards the tech than their leaders (50% and 15%). Ostensibly in part to varying levels of usage and training, workers understand the need to learn how to navigate AI in the workplace, but they still look to their leaders to answer questions over potential job loss, stagnation, and AI strategies. Effective leaders need a holistic skillset that enables them to motivate and encourage workers, while also assuaging fears and providing actionable direction for challenges including and beyond technological change.

Amid reports the workforce is facing a Great Resignation 2.0 with more people planning on leaving their employer than two years ago and workers increasingly looking for opportunities that provide them job security, work-life balance, and learning and career development, effective leadership is critical to curbing resignations and retaining talent.

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What Are Holistic Leadership Skills

Holistic leadership skills enable individuals to guide their teams through these hurdles to reach organizational goals. Exceptional leaders can articulate a clear vision and strategy which in turn fosters an environment of trust and collaboration. Essentially, these are the top leadership competencies that keep organizations competitive and give them a leg up in the workplace today, tomorrow, and for the long-haul.

Due to the rapid rate of transformation, there are certain qualities of a leader that are more important now than in the past. Change management is the star of the show, as change is inevitable in any organization – or any facet of life for that matter. Characterized by calm and logical decision making intended to set minds at ease, effective change management minimizes resistance, facilitates smooth transitions, and boosts morale amid uncertainty while maintaining operational continuity.

Effective communication and emotional intelligence go hand-in-hand, able to create a powerful feedback loop if leaders have a practical understanding of both skills. While

effective communication encompasses talents like articulating ideas, aligning expectations, and facilitating mutual understanding, emotional intelligence provides leaders the ability to empathize, build strong relationships, and manage workplace stress. Without a high EQ, managers and executives are unable to decipher the most effective ways of communicating with various stakeholders and in turn can’t reap the benefits of understanding their workforce.

Effective problem solving and strategic thinking skills can provide solutions to issues leaders are informed of via communication and emotional intellect. Leaders with robust problem solving and strategic thinking talents have a strong underlying creative mind, able to encourage the development of innovative approaches while keeping in mind the long- term impact of decisions. When it comes to managing an ever-changing playing field, especially within tech industries, the ability to be agile and consider the paths ahead can prove vital.

How Are Holistic Leadership Skills Built?

These skills can seem more complex to teach as they’re uniquely human and often intangible, but the proper learning system can make skilling highly successful. Learning and development teams should look for blended, interactive, and personalized learning programs, able to meet learners where they’re at and adjust to their learning styles.

Leadership training can be reinforced with multiple forms of teaching, including 1:1 and group coaching, live instructor-led training (ILT), and AI simulations and hands-on practice labs where skills are put to the test. Most importantly, organizations who implement these learning plans should consistently evaluate their success by assessing learner skill growth and integrate changes to boost its effectiveness based on their industry, company needs, and individual learner necessities.

Leadership training is critical for any professional, but organizations can’t take a one-size- fits-all approach. It’s important to consider different levels of learning for first-time managers versus C-suite executives to best suit their skill level and responsibilities.

Leaders with less direct impact on business ROI, for example, will still benefit from a holistic leadership skillset but may be able to place a lesser importance on communicating directly with investors. When comparing learning programs, also consider this perspective for evaluating personalization.

New capabilities are being developed daily for learning and development platforms that can give your leaders an edge, particularly for technology. Offerings with AI functionalities can familiarize staff with the tech while boosting their growth of skills like effective communication. AI coaches and tutors have been found to effectively stand in as mentor figures especially during skills practice, showcasing their ability to model skills, coach

learners through their own experimenting, and offer immediate and personalized feedback. These tutors offer a low-risk environment to practice difficult scenarios while also offering an easy tool for skill upkeep.

Another resource to look out for in an effective training program is benchmarking capabilities. Most useful for data collection and tracking, benchmarking offers a way to judge workers’ performance against industry standards. Internally, this can also be used to track a learner’s success in their skilling journey and as a consideration when evaluating performance metrics for promotions, raises, and accolades. Shareable badges also help reward learners when they complete modules and provide a way for them to promote their own skills as well as a company’s commitment to continuous learning, a major draw for new talent.

A leader able to effectively learn and consistently demonstrate these traits can ignite passion and creativity in their teams and foster an environment that motivates and encourages each member to bring their best to the table. However, the impact is not just measured within that team. The ripple effect of this type of forward-thinking leadership permeates throughout the entire organization, cultivating a loyal crew for a revered captain. It creates a culture where excellence is the norm, not the exception. Innovation is encouraged and celebrated, leading to new ideas and solutions that can push the organization to new heights and instill endurance through rough waters.

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