Leaders, stay ahead of the curve! - Essential Leadership Skills for 2025: Insights from Forbes

Michelle Vonderau
Michelle Vonderau
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in Leadership and Business

Ahh, it's that time of year.

As we look ahead to 2025, it’s crucial to equip all leaders and managers with the skills necessary to navigate an ever-evolving business landscape. A recent Forbes article by Rachel Wells* highlights five key leadership skills that will be indispensable in the coming year. Here’s a brief overview:

  1. Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Understanding and managing your own emotions, as well as those of others, is critical for effective leadership. Leaders with high EQ foster strong relationships, create positive work environments, and navigate complex interpersonal dynamics. A study published in the Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental found that emotional intelligence in leaders correlates with favorable organizational cultures, high job satisfaction, and strong employee engagement.
  2. Change Management: With rapid changes such as AI integration, restructuring, and hybrid work models, leaders must effectively manage transitions. This involves planning, communicating, and creating psychological safety to support teams through changes.
  3. Resilience: Leaders need to develop resilience not just for organizational success but for their own career growth. This is especially important for middle managers in industries like tech, where organizational structures are flattening, and job security is uncertain. Business Insider recently highlighted the challenges faced by managers in tech, emphasizing the need for career resilience.
  4. Tech and AI Literacy: As technology advances, leaders must stay informed about AI and other technological trends. According to Statista, 68% of employers consider technological literacy to be one of the most essential skills between 2023 and 2027. This knowledge helps leaders implement AI ethically, upskill their workforce, and prepare for future changes.
  5. Resourcefulness and Creativity: With the rise of AI, human creativity and problem-solving are more important than ever. Statista also notes that more than 70% of companies surveyed consider creative thinking and analytical thinking to be the skills most expected to rise in importance between 2023 and 2027. Leaders need to use AI to enhance their innovative thinking and address complex challenges.

Skillsoft has great resources to help you develop these critical skills. Our content is designed to support your journey in building a resilient and forward-thinking leadership team.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these essential skills. Which of these skills do you find most crucial for your organization? Which modality have you found to be the most effective in building critical leadership skills? Let us know in the comments below!

*Note: Forbes Subscription required after first 5 articles. Read the full article here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2024/10/02/5-leadership-skills-every-leader-and-manager-needs-in-2025/

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