Three Essential Skills for Modern Leadership

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Leadership isn’t what it used to be. In an era where the modern leader is expected to navigate complexity, adapt swiftly to change, and connect with a diverse workforce on a deeper, more empathetic level, the essential leadership skills they need are changing. 

Gone are the days when successful leaders simply direct and dictate from the top down. To thrive in today’s environment, leaders must master the following essential skills that allow them to inspire and guide their teams, drive meaningful results, and navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

1. Multi-Modal Communication: Think outside the inbox

Communication has always been central to leadership, but leaders often rely too heavily on email and face-to-face meetings when they communicate with their teams. 

Modern leaders use a variety of tools and methods for engaging their teams. So before you hit send on that team email or try to squeeze that meeting into an impossible time slot where everyone is available, think about whether your message could be more effectively delivered or better received in a different way.

  • Video: A quick and personal way to share information or provide an update.
  • Poll: An easy and engaging way to gather feedback.
  • Shared document: An asynchronous way to collaborate and communicate.
  • Online whiteboard: A fun and creative way to brainstorm and plan.

Benefits of Multi-Modal Communication

By embracing different communication methods, leaders can:

  • Reduce email overload: Minimize the amount of emails team members need to respond to in a day.
  • Increase efficiency: Gather input and share information asynchronously, ensuring that face-to-face time is focused and productive.
  • Increase engagement: Provide opportunities for team members to contribute at their convenience, making it easier for everyone to be involved.

Tips for Developing Multi-Modal Communication Skills

To lean into multi-modal communication, try these ideas:

  • The next time you have information to share with your team, record a short video of yourself and post it to a shared chat where your team can view it. 
  • Explore online collaboration platforms (we love using Miro) and try using that for brainstorming ideas as a team.
  • If you have a simple decision to make and want to gather everyone’s input, try using a poll or survey that the team can fill out.

2. Emotional Intelligence (EI): Lead with empathy

Emotions have no place at work, right? Wrong! Emotional Intelligence (EI) may not be the first essential leadership skill you think of, but it’s one of the most vital in today’s workplace. 

At its core, EI is about recognizing and managing your own emotions, while understanding and responding to the emotions of others. In fast-paced, ever-changing work environments, emotions naturally arise, especially during times of uncertainty, change, and stress. We’re all human, after all!

Leaders who have high EI can:

  • Manage and express their own emotions: Stay calm and composed during stressful situations and express their own emotional state.
  • Recognize and respond to others’ emotions: Build trust and empathy by understanding how team members feel.
  • Create a safe environment for emotional expression: Encourage open dialogue and emotional awareness within the team.

Benefits of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

Practicing and modelling EI as a leader has a positive impact on the entire team:

  • Prevent dysfunction: By addressing emotions early, you can prevent conflicts and disengagement.
  • Improve communication: A team that feels understood is more likely to communicate effectively and work collaboratively.
  • Foster connection: Teams led by emotionally intelligent leaders tend to be more cohesive and supportive.

Tips for Developing Emotional Intelligence

To improve EI, consider these steps:

  • Work with a coach: A coach can help you explore your emotional responses in a non-judgmental space, building your self-awareness and emotional management.
  • Practice active listening: Pay attention to both verbal and non-verbal cues when engaging with your team.
  • Model emotional regulation: Show your team how to manage emotions in healthy ways, especially in challenging situations.

3. Experimentation: Create safety in failure

With the pace of innovation and technology, adapting to new ways of doing things is the norm. Modern leaders need to lean into this by fostering an environment that encourages experimentation—one of the essential leadership skills for thriving in today’s fast-paced world.. And as with trying anything new, this means accepting that failure may happen. 

This doesn’t happen by accident—it requires creating psychological safety where team members feel free to take risks without the fear of punishment if things go wrong.

Benefits of Encouraging Experimentation

When a team feels safe to experiment, they are more likely to:

  • Take calculated risks: Assess and mitigate risks rather than avoid them, enabling growth through informed decision-making.
  • Learn from mistakes: View failure as an opportunity to grow and improve, fostering a culture of resilience.
  • Drive continuous improvement: A safe environment encourages experimentation and refinement of processes and ideas.
  • Boost innovation: Teams are empowered to generate creative solutions, enhancing products and processes.
  • Build agility: Normalizing failure helps teams adapt and evolve in response to challenges.
  • Improve team morale: Trust and safety promote active participation, boosting engagement and overall morale.

Tips for Supporting Experimentation

To create a safe space for experimentation, try these strategies:

  • Ensure upper leadership support: Make sure leadership is aligned with the importance of experimentation and provides the necessary safety net.
  • Invite new ideas: Ask team members what they’d like to try and support them, even if they fail.
  • Celebrate learning from failure: Share the insights gained from unsuccessful experiments, emphasizing the value of each attempt.

The future is full of unknowns, but one thing is certain: leaders who invest in these critical skills will be better prepared for what’s ahead. By mastering multi-modal communication, emotional intelligence, and experimentation, we’re not just navigating change—we’re driving it.