The most important thing to remember is that you're not just collecting data and presenting reports. You're fighting for the wellbeing of real people who deserve better leadership. That fight is always worth having, even when the outcome is uncertain.

Picture this: It's Monday morning, and Sarah from Marketing gets the dreaded email notification. "Reminder: Complete your required communication skills training by Friday." She sighs, opens another browser tab, and prepares for 45 minutes of clicking through slides, watching talking heads explain concepts she could Google in five minutes, and answering multiple-choice questions designed by someone who clearly hasn't had a real conversation in years.

Leadership isn't just about making decisions when the path is clear—it's about stepping forward when the ground beneath you feels uncertain, when the stakes are high, and when others are looking to you for direction through uncharted territory. It’s not about exerting authority (as the old command-and-control) and ventures into the realm where strength and conviction are equally balanced with vulnerability and compassion.

Perhaps one of the most surprising data points that emerged in our first two years working with organizations across industries was to learn that nearly every organization we worked with scored lowest in “job role clarity.” Employees were dissatisfied, burning out or leaving because of a set of conditions that would never be solved many through fancy frameworks or inspirational speeches. Consistently, three fundamental elements to a thriving, productive and innovative workplace are frequently overlooked: crystal-clear job roles, well-defined decision-making authority, and the courage to articulate trade-offs transparently. These can be handled through small, simple actions.

After the response to our last post “Where has leadership gone?” it became clear that more was needed on the subject that took into account the reality we are currently facing. What follows is by no means an exhaustive list, but a set of recommendations for leaders who do really want to lead during this time.

At a recent executive dinner we hosted in Chicago with guests from across Fortune 500, education, arts and technology, we wrestled with a question that's keeping many of us up at night: Where has the leadership gone?

Granted, we are living in a period of unprecedented volatility. It’s hard to know what variables to account for, and the stakes are high. New sweeping government regulations along with punitive economic measures is…a lot. It’s a tough time to be leaders. But around the table what we were witnessing is a greater level of conformity, cowardice and the ostrich-effect: leaders buying their heads in the sand and claiming it’s about the bottom line. We can do better.

In today's rapidly evolving workplace, soft skills have emerged as critical differentiators between good teams and exceptional ones. Communication, empathy, collaboration, and adaptability are no longer nice-to-have qualities but essential components of organizational success. Yet, despite the increasing investment in soft skills training, many companies find themselves frustrated by the lack of meaningful results.

The balance of technological benefits of AI and fair compensation for workers increasing their productivity will be a critical conversation in many workplaces in the coming years.

The shift back to office-based work after extended periods of remote flexibility presents one of the most significant leadership challenges of our time.

We know, everyone is still harping on technical skills as the most important challenge facing the workforce. But according to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023, critical thinking, creative thinking, and problem-solving are among the top skills that will be crucial through 2027. Let’s look at the data…

In times of political upheaval, workplace values often face their greatest test. Organizations must navigate increasingly complex waters where external pressures and internal principles can collide, creating challenges for leaders at every level. This tension presents both a significant challenge and an opportunity for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to their core values through courageous leadership.

The shift to hybrid work has moved from a temporary measure to a permanent reality. While this transformation offers unprecedented flexibility and access to global talent, it presents a unique challenge for HR leaders: How do we maintain strong team dynamics when our people are spread across different locations and time zones?

In boardrooms across the globe, conversations about productivity and innovation are increasingly focusing on an often-overlooked factor: team dynamics. While technical skills and processes can be readily measured and improved, the soft skills that drive team success often remain underdeveloped – creating a costly blind spot for organizations.

Traditional workplace training often feels like medicine we have to swallow – technical, dry, and disconnected from real human experience. Cinema, on the other hand, taps into our emotions, triggers our empathy, and presents complex scenarios in rich, nuanced contexts that mirror real workplace dynamics.

As artificial intelligence revolutionizes the workplace, a surprising truth has emerged: our most human capabilities are becoming our most valuable professional assets.

How we can ensure building “civility” in the workplace remains an inclusionary tactic.

Fear and anxiety from political developments continue to spill into the workplace - because we’re all human and we don’t switch off when we get to work. Here are some tips about how to approach these big feelings with humanity.