# The future of leadership post-pandemic
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2020-10-21
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: Future Leadership Skills in a Rapidly Changing World
Meta Description: Prepare for the future by focusing on leadership behaviours and de facto skills in a constantly changing business landscape. Stay ahead of competition.
URL: https://financedigest.com/the-future-of-leadership-post-pandemichtml

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_By **Chris Underwood,** MD at_ [_Adastrum Consulting_](http://www.adastrumconsulting.com/)

Even prior to the pandemic, we were living in a world of rapid disruption. Technological innovation is happening at great pace and impacting business models and organisational structures. The “new normal” is not fixed but will constantly change, therefore leaders need to be ready to operate in unchartered environments and tackle new challenges.

[Focusing on leadership development remains](https://www.financedigest.com/european-bourses-steady-as-focus-remains-on-key-economic-data.html "European bourses steady as focus remains on key economic data") hugely important for forward-looking organisations and ambitious individuals. However, it is difficult to predict exactly what [skills will be relevant and needed in the future](https://www.financedigest.com/technology-skills-and-servitization-a-brighter-future-for-manufacturing.html "TECHNOLOGY, SKILLS AND SERVITIZATION: A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR MANUFACTURING?"). 2020 has proved to be the ultimate “Black Swan” event, unforeseen in its arrival and [impact on businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/fluid-coolers-market-by-covid-19-impact-analysis-volume-and-value-revenue-business-opportunity-future-projections-and-key-trends.html "Fluid Coolers Market By Covid-19 Impact Analysis – Volume And Value, Revenue, Business Opportunity, Future Projections, And Key Trends"). While technical skills will be important, soft leadership skills and behaviours that support a change-led culture will [prepare businesses](https://www.financedigest.com/esg-prepared-why-ignoring-esg-is-a-costly-business.html "ESG Prepared: Why Ignoring ESG is a Costly Business") for disruption and rapid transformation. Switching the emphasis of development to leadership behaviours and equipping leaders with a core set of de facto [skills will better prepare them for future](https://www.financedigest.com/creating-a-skilled-workforce-fit-for-the-future.html "Creating a skilled workforce fit for the future") disruption.

It is equally important to create bespoke development programmes, that are set within the context of individual organisations and [assessed against the goals that will be expected](https://www.financedigest.com/home-care-chemicals-market-is-expected-to-expand-at-a-cagr-close-to-5-over-the-assessment-period-of-2021-and-2031.html "Home Care Chemicals Market is expected to expand at a CAGR close to 5% over the assessment period of 2021 and 2031") for particular roles. A one-size fits all approach does not suit the unique [challenges faced](https://www.financedigest.com/overcoming-challenges-faced-in-business-from-one-woman-to-another.html "Overcoming challenges faced in business: from one woman to another") in different sectors, organisational sizes or structures.

**De Facto Skills for Developing Leaders**

**Understanding [digital business](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-releases-the-partnership-economy-a-new-book-that-guides-businesses-to-success-in-a-digital-world.html "impact.com releases The Partnership Economy, a new book that guides businesses to success in a digital world") models**

Innovation brings tremendous [potential to disrupt to our workplaces both positively](https://www.financedigest.com/grab-and-go-containers-market-anticipated-to-have-positive-potential-during-the-forecast-period-fmi.html "Grab and Go Containers Market anticipated to have positive potential during the forecast period.: FMI") and negatively. For example, [improvements in automation could benefit customer](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-financial-firms-improve-customer-service-after-the-pandemic.html "How Can Financial Firms Improve Customer Service after the Pandemic?") engagement, increase efficiency and reduce costs, but could also introduces new threats and challenges existing working practices.

To stay ahead of competition, all senior leaders – regardless of departmental role – must have a grasp on how the [digital economy works and how innovation can affect current business](https://www.financedigest.com/five-ways-businesses-can-prepare-themselves-for-the-digital-economy-be-kaler-pilgrim.html "Five ways businesses can prepare themselves for the digital economy – Be Kaler Pilgrim") models. This ensures organisations can exploit new technology for [business benefit](https://www.financedigest.com/how-choosing-the-right-mtd-for-vat-software-can-maximise-business-benefits.html "How choosing the right MTD for VAT software can maximise business benefits") and remain competitive.

**Agile working**

Often associated with the technology function, agile [ways of working](https://www.financedigest.com/five-ways-to-embrace-hybrid-working.html "Five Ways to Embrace Hybrid-Working") are both a culture and a mindset. They enable cross-functional collaboration, creativity and collective problem-solving. The agile mindset drives a culture of rapid adoption of change, better [customer experiences](https://www.financedigest.com/solving-the-customer-experience-conundrum-how-fs-organisations-can-use-data-to-level-up.html "Solving the customer experience conundrum: How FS organisations can use data to level up") and, for product development, a reduced time to market. Agility motivates better collective performance, greater stakeholder engagement and superior quality for the output.

Common in start-ups, there is a [risk that talented employees may outgrow businesses without organisational and people management](https://www.financedigest.com/treasury-and-risk-management-application-market-to-bring-in-revenue-of-us-7-1-bn-by-2028-comprehensive-research-report-by-fmi.html "Treasury and Risk Management Application Market to bring in revenue of US$ 7.1 Bn by 2028 – Comprehensive Research Report by FMI") structures. Effective leaders find the sweet spot between moving at pace and still ensuring processes are there to [manage risk](https://www.financedigest.com/risk-management-redefined-navigating-post-covid-disruption.html "Risk Management redefined: navigating post-COVID disruption") and delivery.

**Data Management**

Data has the potential to unlock huge [business opportunities](https://www.financedigest.com/electric-vehicle-transmission-market-emerging-growth-analysis-future-demand-and-business-opportunities-2027.html "Electric Vehicle Transmission Market Emerging Growth Analysis, Future Demand and Business Opportunities 2027"), as long as leaders know how to ask the right questions of it. Collecting data for data’s sake has become dangerously popular, yet unless organisations use it to actively identify how they can improve specific processes or the [customer journey](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-navigate-a-seamless-journey-from-cio-to-chief-customer-officer.html "How to navigate a seamless journey from CIO to Chief Customer Officer"), it holds no value. Future leaders that view data as an enabler to show ways to cut operating costs, maximise [profits or improve](https://www.financedigest.com/efg-international-says-profitability-improved-in-first-nine-months.html "EFG International says profitability improved in first nine months") efficiency, will secure their place in the boardroom.

**Key Leadership Behaviours**

![Chris Underwood](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/chrisunderwood-450x450-1736838782338-compressed.jpg)

Chris Underwood

**Emotional Intelligence (EQ)**

Composure and focus are key to maintaining leadership credentials in times of [rapid change](https://www.financedigest.com/rapidly-changing-fashion-lifestyle-is-expected-to-spur-demand-for-clothes-closets-market.html "Rapidly Changing Fashion Lifestyle Is Expected To Spur Demand For Clothes Closets Market") and maintain purpose. Empathy is critical to building trust and understanding the fear that arises in [periods of rapid](https://www.financedigest.com/ground-support-equipment-gse-tires-air-market-to-grow-rapidly-during-the-forecast-period-2018-2028.html "Ground Support Equipment Gse Tires Air Market to Grow rapidly During the Forecast Period 2018 – 2028") change. EQ helps individuals to [build relationships](https://www.financedigest.com/building-a-relationship-led-bank-requires-a-more-human-touch.html "Building a relationship led bank requires a more human touch"), collaborate and work effectively with others, understanding diverse viewpoints. For [leaders it will also develop a team’s](https://www.financedigest.com/allowing-yourself-time-to-grow-as-a-leader-consciously-will-enable-you-to-support-your-team-authentically.html "Allowing yourself time to grow as a leader, consciously, will enable you to support your team authentically") Collective Intelligence (CQ), strengthening creative problem-solving enabling adaptation and flexibility in a fast-changing environment.

**Communication**

Strong communication has long been [considered an important](https://www.financedigest.com/4-important-factors-to-consider-when-choosing-an-eb-5-visa-investment-project.html "4 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing an EB-5 Visa Investment Project") leadership quality, but the Coronavirus pandemic has really highlighted its significance when dealing with change. To keep teams motivated and cultivate a community, [leaders need to be able to adapt](https://www.financedigest.com/how-business-leaders-can-adapt-or-replace-covid-related-perks-to-the-post-pandemic-world-while-keeping-employees-on-side.html "How business leaders can adapt or replace Covid related perks to the post-pandemic world while keeping employees on-side") their communication style to different audiences, contexts and situations. When [discussing communication](https://www.financedigest.com/optical-satellite-communication-market-emerging-trends-to-boost-the-global-revenue-growth-discussed-in-a-new-market-research-report-by-tmr.html "Optical Satellite Communication Market – Emerging Trends to Boost the Global Revenue Growth Discussed in a New Market Research Report by TMR"), people usually only focus on the broadcast element – how to effectively share their views.  Do not forget that the ability to effectively extract and process is as important – something which leaders must actively practise to maintain.

**Adaptability**

Embracing technology has played a key role in shifting to [remote working](https://www.financedigest.com/remote-working-during-covid-a-successful-social-experiment.html "Remote working during COVID: a successful social experiment") over the past few months, with companies and teams that were already forward-thinking adapting far quicker. Change-oriented leaders have proved invaluable during this period and their star is high. These individuals are always curious, exploring new [developments in technology](https://www.financedigest.com/nano-one-awarded-10-million-from-sustainable-development-technology-canada.html "Nano One Awarded million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada") and process management to identify where they can improve existing practices.

Always striving for the most effective and [efficient ways](https://www.financedigest.com/finance-operations-efficiency-7-ways-to-slick-up-your-department.html "Finance operations efficiency – 7 ways to slick up your department") of working, these leaders and their teams are used to adapting how they work together and are less likely to be overcome by rapid change.

**Resilient agility**

The pandemic has really shown that “resilient agility” will [become a key requirement for leaders](https://www.financedigest.com/intuitive-decision-making-could-this-approach-be-the-most-underrated-way-to-becoming-a-successful-leader.html "Intuitive decision making: could this approach be the most underrated way to becoming a successful leader?") moving forwards. It balances adaptability with the fortitude to see things through. Individuals displaying this trait will able to respond to fast-change and meet new needs. At the same time, they also have the grit and emotional resilience to remain dedicated to achieving prime objectives and keep teams on track.


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