The Qualities a Great Leader Should Have in 2016

They say that great power comes with great responsibility, and if you need confirmation of this, look no further than at the results of the 2016 Trends In Executive Development biennial survey.

The report, a collaboration between Executive Development Associates, Pearson Talent Lens, and Performance Assessment Network, aims to track how executive education and development trends have evolved over the years. Over 60 pages, it captures the business zeitgeist, highlights the present-day challenges that executives face, and also reveals what they prioritise (or not!) as they work towards objectives.

This year, CEOs, executives, heads of executive development and senior HR leaders from a total of 466 large and mediumsized companies were involved in the survey, including brands like Apple, Citigroup and Lloyd’s of London. Our “executive infographic” shows you what today’s business leaders need, in order to stay ahead in these capricious times.

Top 4 Traits of The Best Leaders

• THEY DON’T SHOW OFF

• THEY DON’T DICTATE

• THEY ENCOURAGE INPUT

• THEY SHOW VULNERABILITY

TOP COMPETENCIES LACKING IN NEXT-GENERATION LEADERS

31.5% Ability to create a vision and engage others around it

28.8% Ability to attract, develop and retain the talent to achieve business objectives

25.0% Ability to inspire

23.6% Ability to deliver results / results-oriented

"Executives and those aspiring to be executives probably need to spend more time deliberately practising their vision and influencing skills rather than their golf skills, though a case could be made for integrating the two.”

THE 2016 TRENDS IN EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Topics in Executive Development

WHAT'S HOT 

WHAT'S NOT

Business ethics / Integrity

 Public relations / external communications / dealing with the media

Customer focus

 Leading multicultural and multinational talent

Cognitive readiness

 Mindfulness / wellness

BUZZWORD OF 2016

"COGNITIVE READINESS"

“The mental, emotional and interpersonal preparedness for uncertainty and risk (which) complements critical thinking by emphasising non-rational, non-logical skills… Overall, heightened cognitive readiness allows leaders to maintain a better sense of self-control in stressful situations.”

The Costs

54.8%

The percentage of companies that expect to increase their training and development budgets over the next two to three years.

US$14b The amount spent annually on leadership development in the United States alone.

"The world needs exemplary leaders. It needs them in families, schools, communities, corporations, government agencies, NGOs, non-profits – in all types of organisations. It needs them at all levels and in all functions. And it needs them now more than ever.”

JIM KOUZES, CO-AUTHOR OF THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE, AND THE DEAN’S EXECUTIVE FELLOW OF LEADERSHIP, LEAVEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY (SOURCE: THE 2016 TRENDS IN EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT REPORT)