INTRODUCTION
DeepSeek.
DOGE.
Eco-minimalism.
Biohacking.
I doubt if all of you reading this ‘get’ all above terms.
Okay.
But what’s that got to do with leadership?
A lot if you ask me.
Leaders today are surrounded by change; and I don’t just mean change in language.
Actually far from.
What appears to be a change in language is symptomatic of a much larger change – one of technology, lifestyle, values and all else.
It’s fundamental change in how we view life, how we live life and even how we’ve come to define living.
It’s change in how we define identity.
It’s change in how we view ownership.
It’s change in how we view creation and creativity.
Yes.
Fundamental and material change is here; and several leaders today are far from ready.
Considering the human civilisation emerged a few hundred thousand years ago, you could argue that we’re no strangers to change. In fact, in the last 100 years alone, we’ve witnessed inventions such as computers, smartphones, televisions, and interestingly, even slice bread.
However, the things that differentiate today’s changes from anything we’ve ever witnessed before are the velocity with which they’re arriving, the immediate and wide reaching impact they have, and the interconnectedness of it all.
So how must leaders of tomorrow get ready to adapt, evolve, and lead through this change?
Let’s find out.
WHAT CHANGES WE’RE WITNESSING?
Once a buzz word, Artificial Intelligence is now so deeply embedded in our lives that we might as well call ourselves humans managed by machine learning models, algorithms and rules – after all, it’s possibly a model of sorts that’s surfaced my article in your feed.
At a more macro level, we also continue to worry about the rate of climate change; though when you combine that with the geopolitics surrounding this and other global themes, such as the ani-ESG and DEI narratives, you’d be well within your right to claim that there’s no straightforward ‘correct’ answer for many organisations.
In addition to this, there’s growing debate about return to work rules as the multi-generational workforce continues to drive in differing directions.
As for leadership, while some of you may feel the machines might be able to handle all of the above, a study by Korn Ferry suggest that by 2030, more than 85 million jobs could go unfilled because there aren’t enough skilled people to take them.
That’s correct.
The problem here isn’t that the robots will take our jobs, but that we’ll be lacking in skill to do what our jobs demand of us.
HOW TO LEAD IN 2025 AND BEYOND?
Jack Welch famously said: “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
Yet leaders today cannot afford not to grow themselves because while you may feel you’re being impacted by change above you, to those in your team, you drive much of the change that impacts them.
So for every leader in 2025 and beyond, here are some behaviours to consider.
1. Be curious
As they say, success is its own worst enemies.
One of the worst features of success is that many leaders feel that they’ve seen all there is to see, and that learning is beneath them.
Yet, as I mentioned above, the changes we’re seeing today are those that we’ve never witnessed before and as a leader, you must practice healthy curiosity.
2. Provide a sense of direction
While workforces continue to face disruption and chaos, it’s only natural that even if they solve in democratised ways, they’ll look up to you for direction and values, if not direct answers.
Having a curious and informed mind will help you provide the relevant direction and generate the right debate.
3. Provide the right support
As you develop deeper appreciation of changes surrounding you, your role as a leader in 2025 is to do what it takes to enable the right support.
Whether it’s unlocking investment in technology or standing up against mindless technology spend for its own sake, you’ve got to be there for the team to make it happen.
This includes changing the construct of the team if need be.
CONCLUSION
To conclude, the world is witnessing rapid change and as a leader, it’s your duty not just to understand and embrace it, but to take your organisation with you.
While it’s okay to fail fast and learn fast, through diligent learning, you might be able to learn from other’s lessons. For the curious mind, the archives are rich in lessons – both from success and failure.
So as you plan ahead for the rest of 2025 and beyond, make it a point to stay humble, take interest, and admit that there’s much to learn for us all.
If you’d like to read further on this topic, download my book ‘Strategic Leadership through Uncertain Times’ which shows you how to lead when everything seems ripe for change.
My book includes actionable tips that you can apply in a wide range of organisations, and touches upon the entire spectrum from setting strategy through to disciplined execution.
For those who find this helpful, they can also reach out to me for one-on-one coaching to continue your transformation journey.