Leadership in an era of transformation - how do we develop the leaders of the future?

Today's leaders are no longer solely responsible for achieving operational goals. Their key task becomes leading teams through continuous transformation, towards the future.

Leadership is a competence, not a job

Modern leadership is not based on a hierarchy, but on a set of specific skills, especially soft skills. Mental resilience, self-awareness, a willingness to receive and give feedback, the ability to build commitment and act as an authentic role model - these are the key qualities of an effective leader today.

• Start with a diagnosis, not a programme

Effective leadership development should always start with.... listening. Diagnosing development needs, exploring leadership styles, talking to managers - this allows you to create a competency map and tailor the development programme to the real context of the organisation and its business goals.

• Adaptation as a core competence

Silo-based management models are a thing of the past. Leaders of the future must be able to operate in uncertainty, make value-based decisions, manage risks and create sustainable relationships with stakeholders. Developing strategic and critical thinking competencies is becoming as important today as knowing operational processes.

• A culture of feedback and continuous learning

Leader development cannot be separated from organisational development. Leaders should model a culture of openness, continuous learning and constructive feedback. The huge importance of mentoring, coaching and peer-to-peer learning exchanges is worth emphasising.

• Transformation instead of training

Conscious and mature organisations are moving away from one-off training to long-term transformational programmes that combine workshops, project work, mentoring sessions and elements of personalised development.

At BPP, we design development programmes that go beyond textbook theory. By working with experienced coaches, leaders undergo a real transformation - they develop not only the right mindset, but also the specific competences needed to operate effectively in a changing reality. The effects of this change are visible in the daily work of the teams and in the strategic development of the organisation.- says Kamila Izdebska, Head of BPP in Poland.

In an era of constant change, it is not enough to have leaders - you need leaders who are prepared for the future. HR and L&D teams are not only responsible for implementing training programmes, but more importantly for shaping the leadership culture. It is worth remembering that an investment in developing leaders is an investment in an organisation's ability to adapt, innovate and grow sustainably.

Article also published on focusonbusiness.eu/en/.