The summer special issue of People + Strategy on Leadership 2030 features an article by Rob Kaiser and Brad Winn consolidating lessons from the pandemic era for the foreseeable future.
While everyone’s crystal ball may be a bit murky, they make the case that versatile leadership will be the meta-competency that increasingly distinguishes the best from the rest.
Rob and Brad also take a close look at the role of empathy based on a recent study of over 5,000 executives assessed since 2019. The findings offer support for the popular belief that empathetic leadership is more important than ever. However, the most empathetic leaders are not the most effective leaders; rather, leaders who balance empathy with a strong drive for results are—hands down—the most effective. Which takes us right back to versatile leadership.
Read the article, Leadership for a Post-Pandemic World: Versatility and the Special Case of Empathy, and check out the rest of the special issue here.
KEY TAKE-AWAYS
"As the world careens toward the next normal, organizations with versatile leadership will be in the best position to navigate the shifting landscape."
"The data show three important things:
- Empathetic leadership is indeed on the rise.
- Empathy is, in fact, playing a stronger role in effective post-pandemic leadership, especially in terms of employee engagement.
- But… the most empathetic leaders are not the most effective leaders; rather, leaders who balance empathy with a strong drive for results are—hands down—the most effective.
Special thanks to the Society for Human Resource Management for inviting Rob and Brad to share their perspective in People + Strategy!
