The leadership skills required by companies are increasingly complex, requiring leaders not only with a clear strategic vision, but also with the ability to deal with uncertainty, diversity and innovation.
To ensure these leaders are ready for the future, Human Resources (HR) departments need to act strategically and proactively.
So, what will leaders need to thrive in 2025? And more importantly, what should HR prioritize to prepare its leaders for this new landscape? In this article, we’ll outline the core competencies that will be crucial in the coming years.
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The most valued skills in leaders in 2025
Below, we detail some of the key skills that future leaders will need to master to ensure the success of their organizations and teams, according to Forbes articles and experts:
1. Creating inclusive and innovation-oriented teams
Diversity and inclusion are no longer just an ethical objective, but a strategic lever for innovation.
According to Cynthia Pong, executive coach, in an article in Forbes, successful leaders will be those who can integrate diverse perspectives, from different cultures, ages and skills, to stimulate innovation.
Not only are these teams able to identify problems more effectively, they are also able to create more robust solutions for the global market.
Furthermore, as emphasized by Henrique Gomes, HR specialist, in an interview with CBN Maringá, adapting to new social and cultural realities will be a vital skill.
Companies that manage to combine different points of view in their decisions will have a clear competitive advantage.
2. Crisis management and decision-making under pressure
In a global context of uncertainty, political, economic and even environmental crises will be a constant. As Robert Half, a management consulting firm, points out in the article ” Essential skills for senior management positions “, telemarketing data the ability to manage crises and make quick, effective and well-communicated decisions will be essential.
Experience in volatile environments, such as high inflation markets, can provide a crucial advantage.
For example, leaders with experience in unstable regions, such as Latin America, can apply these learnings in global contexts.
3. Connection between technology and team performance
In 2025, the ability to understand and integrate new technologies will be an essential skill for leaders.
Pong, in the aforementioned Forbes article, reports that simply using new technological tools is not enough. Leaders will need to ensure that these technologies are integrated in a way that improves team dynamics and performance, without losing sight of employee well-being.
4. Creativity in solving complex problems
With the increasing complexity of challenges faced by organizations, creativity will be a key skill.
In a world where automation and artificial intelligence are rapidly shaping the marketplace, leaders will need to think of creative ways to deal with unexpected situations.
According to Robert Half, an example would be the need to quickly replace suppliers or adapt to market changes without compromising results.
5. Effective and adaptive communication
In a hybrid work environment, communication will be more than essential.
Robert Half points out that leaders spam data will need to have adaptive communication skills, capable of dealing with distributed teams and distant stakeholders.
Clear, consistent and personalized communication will be key to ensuring team alignment and engagement.
6. Align business growth with social impact
Leaders in 2025 will need to align business growth with social and environmental issues.
Companies can no longer view sustainable practices and ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals as separate topics from business strategy.
Among the most valued skills in leaders is the ability to integrate these aspects into their core operations, which can not only generate greater trust but also open up new markets and opportunities.
7. Navigating complex stakeholder relationships
The ability to manage a complex for first-time visitors web of relationships, from customers to regulators, will be one of the most important skills in 2025.
Forbes notes that leaders will need to understand and manage the different expectations of their stakeholders, something that may involve using technology to maintain a clear and transparent dialogue with everyone involved.
Henrique Gomes reinforces that this ability to understand the interconnected needs of different stakeholders will be decisive for the success of any organization in the coming years.
What should HR prioritize?
To ensure that organizations remain competitive and prepared for the challenges of 2025, HR needs to focus on the continuous development of the following competencies in leaders:
Diversity and inclusion as a driver of innovation
Crisis management and rapid decision making
Technology and its impact on teams, aiming at performance and well-being
Creativity as the key to quick and effective solutions
Adaptive and transparent communication at all levels
Alignment between business growth and social impact
Strategic stakeholder management, building trust and collaboration
Now, more than ever, is the time for HR to accelerate the development of these skills in its leaders. And to accelerate your career and stay ahead of HR trends, you can invest in Koru’s HR Acceleration Program .
It is ideal for those who want to learn from the greatest CHROs in the market and apply theory in real situations. Sign up now.