What leadership skills will become increasingly important in the next 5 – 10 years?

As the business landscape evolves at an unprecedented pace, leaders must adapt their skillsets to navigate the challenges of tomorrow. But what leadership skills will become increasingly important in the next 5-10 years? With 70% of leaders agreeing that their organizations face critical skills gaps[5], understanding future leadership requirements is crucial for organizational success.

To shed light on this pressing question, we’ve invited industry experts to share their insights. Our first contributor is Didier Marlier, a renowned leadership consultant and author with over 20 years of experience in change management and disruptive thinking[11]. As an “agent provocateur” in the field of leadership development[10], Didier offers a unique perspective on the skills that will shape effective leadership in the coming decade.

Let’s explore Didier’s thoughts on the leadership skills that will be essential for navigating the complexities of the future business world.

Didier Marlier

Didier Marlier, a renowned leadership consultant, author, and “agent provocateur” in change management, identifies ten key leadership skills that will become increasingly important in the next 5-10 years. As a professor at prestigious institutions like IMD and INSEAD, and co-author of “Engaging Leadership,” Marlier offers a unique perspective on future leadership requirements.

According to Marlier, leaders will need to progress “from contents leading what I know to context leading, even when I don’t slow leadership.” This shift emphasizes adaptability in uncertain environments. He also stresses the importance of “moving from polarization, polarizing tactics to embracing cognitive diversity,” recognizing that diverse thinking leads to better results.

Key leadership skills for the future include:

1. Engaging communities rather than leading hierarchical teams
2. Focusing on social impact alongside financial metrics
3. Fostering unconditional collaboration instead of earned trust
4. Identifying and challenging organizational orthodoxies
5. Developing self-critical thinking to understand personal triggers and biases
6. Transitioning from transactional to relational leadership styles
7. Evolving from directors to educators within their organizations

Marlier emphasizes the need for leaders to move “from EBITDA focus only to social impact as well,” highlighting the growing importance of corporate social responsibility. He also advocates for a shift “from critical thinking to self-critical thinking,” encouraging leaders to recognize their own thought patterns and emotional triggers.

As leadership continues to evolve, Marlier’s insights provide a roadmap for developing the skills necessary to navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. Event planners and decision-makers should consider these emerging leadership competencies when selecting speakers or designing development programs for their organizations.