What characteristics do leaders and managers need in today's world?

Liz Makin Author

Jan 19, 2026 |

A look at the characteristics leaders and managers need in today's world of change, uncertainty, unpredictability, internationalisation and immediacy.

What characteristics do leaders and managers need in today's world?

The world today is ever changing, it is more immediate with instant communication, social media, AI and the internet, more international, the workforce is more mobile and everything is much less certain and predictable than before.

Against this backdrop, here are some characteristics that leaders and managers can reflect on and consider where they need to focus their personal development on:

1. Flexible, adaptable and agile. Change is an essential part of the world today and managers and leaders need to be able to seek opportunities for change, effect change both within and outside their organisation and enable their organisation to be agile. Are you and your organisation flexible, adaptable and agile?

2. Focused. Keeping focused is critical to achieving your goals and those of your organisation especially when you can easily be distracted by the outside world and immediacy. Identify your strategy and goals, understand how you are going to get there, take action to achieve your goals and prioritise and re-prioritise as things change. Are you keeping focused on achieving your goals and those of your organisation?

3. Prepared to change direction. Often in life things do not go according to plan. You may have had a great idea but it is just not working out. Managers and leaders today have to assess where they are, learn from the experience and be prepared to change course. Are you prepared to change direction?

4. Open and willing to try new things. Being open to new ideas and willing to try new things are part of being a leader or manager today. This may include learning from others, staying on top of new developments, taking manageable risks and being willing to experiment. Are you open to new ideas and willing to try new things ?

5. Proactive. Being proactive and seeking out and exploiting opportunities will ensure you achieve your goals and objectives and those of your organisation. Many managers and leaders are reactive waiting for their competitors to take action, by which time it is too late. Are you and your organisation proactive?

6. Positive. If you maintain a positive attitude, this will be infectious and those around you will pick up on your positive energy. Everyone in your organisation will feel positive and people will want to work with you, leading to you maximising the performance of your organisation. Do you have a positive attitude?

7. Pay attention to the outside world. Leader and managers today need to be aware of the bigger picture and what is happening outside of their organisation, whether this be the economy and environment, your competitors or local issues. Are you paying attention to the outside world?

8. Building and valuing business relationships. Today's leaders and managers build, develop and value relationships, whether this be with suppliers, customers, other organisations or their staff. Great relationships enable you to achieve your objectives, adapt and effect change. Are you building and valuing your relationships?

9. Think and act strategically. If you want your organisation to grow and prosper you need to step back and make time to think and act strategically, working 'on', as well as 'in' your organisation. Do you have a strategy and are you being strategic?

10. Leadership and management skills. There are many different skills of a good leader or manager which are pre-requisites for being an leader or manager in today's world, including being visionary, inspiring and motivating others, being customer focused and being knowledgeable and experienced.  How does your leadership compare?

So what do you need to change or work on to improve your leadership and management?

Personal development courses to develop your soft skills

If you want practical tips and strategies to develop your soft skills to be a better leader or manager, our personal development online courses are for you.

You can take a look at our range of online personal development courses and bundles, including current special offers, at https://onlinecourses.makinithappen.co.uk

Categories: : Business, Life, Online courses, People management, Personal development, Work