The Most Important Leadership Skills to Develop Right Now

The Most Important Leadership Skills to Develop Right Now

Discover three essential leadership skills; mindset, presence, and empathy. To build trust, connection, and people-centered success.

by Dr. Julie Donley

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Leadership is changing, fast.
Hybrid work, burnout, and generational shifts have redefined what people need from their leaders. In a world of constant change, one truth remains: people don’t just follow leaders; they respond to how leaders make them feel.

That’s why the most important leadership skills to develop right now are less about managing tasks and more about mastering yourself, your mindset, your presence, and your ability to connect with others.

1. Adopt a Continuous Learning Mindset

The foundation of effective leadership is growth. A continuous learning mindset means staying curious, open, and adaptable. It’s realizing that leadership isn’t something you achieve once; it’s something you practice every day.

Ask yourself:

• What am I learning about myself and my team right now?
• How am I growing through the challenges I face?
• What assumptions might I need to let go of?

When you stay curious, you remain agile. You stop clinging to “how things have always been” and start exploring “what’s possible now.” This shift in mindset transforms obstacles into opportunities and makes you a model for growth in your organization.

2. Be Intentional About How People Feel in Your Presence

People may forget what you said, but they won’t forget how they felt in your presence.
That’s your leadership legacy in real time.

Emotions drive behavior. When people feel safe, seen, and valued, they perform, engage, and trust. But if they feel anxious, dismissed, or invisible, you lose their best self.

Every interaction matters. Before walking into a meeting or conversation, take a moment to set your intention:

• How do I want people to feel in my presence? Calm, inspired, supported, respected?
• What energy am I bringing into the room?

Friction often arises not from disagreement, but from how people experience you while navigating that disagreement. Presence shapes perception, and perception shapes trust.

Your CARE Leadership Model™ begins right here. You can’t truly communicate, appreciate, respect, or empathize until you are grounded enough to notice how your presence impacts others.

3. Connect Through Empathy

If I had to choose one people-focused approach every leader should adopt right now, it would be this: prioritize meaningful connection.

In today’s workplace, people crave authenticity. They want to feel that their leaders care, not just about performance, but about them as human beings.

Connection doesn’t require grand gestures. It’s found in simple moments:

• Checking in sincerely and listening without judgment.
• Expressing appreciation for effort, not just results.
• Creating space for honest conversation and feedback.

These acts build trust, belonging, and psychological safety. The foundation of engagement and high performance.

As I often say, “If you want people to care about the work, show them you care about them.”

The Future of People-Centered Leadership

The future of leadership isn’t about managing tasks, it’s about leading people.
And that starts with you. How you think, how you show up, and how you connect.

When you lead with a learning mindset, intentional presence, and empathy, you create environments where people feel valued and perform at their best. You reduce friction, foster trust, and build a culture where both people and performance thrive.

Take a moment to reflect:
​How do people feel in your presence? And what do you want your leadership legacy to be?

Until next time, happy leading!

To your success,

Dr. Julie

P.S. Learning new ways to approach your leadership is another way to reduce stress and lead with confidence. Explore my comprehensive leadership course at LeadingAtTheSpeedofPeople.com.

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