The definition of leadership is evolving rapidly. As millennials become the largest generation in the workforce and Gen Z continues to enter with clarity, boldness and digital fluency, the expectations for what makes a great leader are being rewritten in real time.
Gone are the days when employees fear interacting with or seeing senior management in the hallway or employee lounge. Today, employees want to know their leaders and understand their values and perspectives. In most organizations, it’s no longer taboo to share stories about your personal life in the office or your human side. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Having spent over two decades working with executives, teaching communications at top universities and advising both startups and global brands, I’ve seen how leadership trends shift. But what’s happening now is more than a shift—it’s a transformation. These generations aren’t just showing up to work; they’re changing the very nature of it.
Here are four leadership traits I believe will define the most effective and trusted leaders over the next decade—and why embracing them now is essential.