In the uncertain world of 2025, leadership requires more than expertise. For everyone to thrive, leaders need to learn, pivot, and navigate constant change. From traditional heavy industries to AI-driven tech sectors, leaders must evolve quickly and embrace new workplace dynamics. In the new environment of remote work, flexible hours, and cross-border collaboration, adaptability has become the number one leadership skill.
Adaptability in leadership is an important subject for all industry sectors. It doesn't matter what you do; the future of work skills is about learning from others and embracing change. Notable leadership skills in 2025 include problem-solving, cultural intelligence, change management, creativity, resilience, collaboration, and inclusiveness. To reap the benefits of these in-demand skills in 2025, it's important to adopt new leadership models and embrace novel learning opportunities.
Whatever your industry sector or professional role, the importance of adaptability in leadership cannot be underestimated. Table of Contents:
What Research Says: Are Women More Adaptable Than Men?
Before we dive into specific essential leadership skills, it's important to note key differences between the genders. While men and women can both make outstanding leaders, they often have a different relationship to adaptability. Before installing people in leadership positions, this needs to be recognized and understood. Women, in particular, have historically demonstrated strong adaptability tendencies.
There are many possible reasons for this, including social expectations, multitasking skills, and problem-solving abilities. Women have long faced barriers in the workplace around career progression, and adaptability has proven to be a beneficial skill. In a study by the University of New South Wales, women who exhibited adaptive behaviour were rewarded more during performance reviews.
In other studies, women have proven strong multitasking and problem-solving abilities compared to male participants. For example, a study from the Harvard Business Review found that women leaders outperform men in power skills (previously known as soft skills) like collaboration, crisis management, and communication. Women can also demonstrate higher emotional intelligence, resilience, and flexibility, which are key traits of adaptability.
Many of the skills involved with embracing change come easier to women in professional situations. In separate research from McKinsey, companies with diverse and adaptable leadership teams often perform better in real-life situations. While adaptability is not gender-exclusive, gender-based diversity is strongly linked with positive business growth.
So how do you show adaptability in the workplace? In a practical sense, this means using and improving some of the power skills that are in demand in 2025 which include critical thinking, time management, empathetic communication, collaboration, and creativity. All leaders, both women and men, can develop these essential capabilities with intentional practice.Â
The Role of Travel and Multiculturalism in Building Adaptability
While there are many ways to become more adaptable in the modern world, most involve some kind of exposure. When you expose yourself to different people and situations, you learn to take in new information and make positive changes. For example, cultural exposure has been found to impact leadership behaviours positively as it forces individuals to think outside their box and develop better problem-solving skills. As a result, people who are highly open to new experiences become more creative when they have extensive multicultural exposure, but those who are less open do not gain the same creative benefits.
According to cross-cultural leadership research, people who have lived or worked in multiple countries are often better at adjusting to change and leading diverse teams. Expatriates' cultural intelligence and cross-cultural adaptation are linked to enhanced performance in international assignments. Research reveals in another study that cultural exposure enhances both emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence, which are crucial for effective leadership in diverse settings.
To become better equipped and more adaptable leaders, women and men can both develop various skills through increased exposure. For instance as a leader stepping into novel, uncomfortable transitions and embracing change is definitely at the top of the list. Women in leadership should continue to build on their strengths while strengthening their teams and organizations.Â
Any leader focused on growth should be plotting how to capitalize on the top leadership trends that will shape 2025.
Leveraging Global Assignments and Learning Opportunities
International work experience is one of the best ways to expose yourself to new cultures. Companies that encourage and support employees with global assignments are more likely to create strong and versatile leaders. This works through the mechanisms of exposure, with people able to access fresh information, learn from new experiences, and integrate lessons into their own working life. Global assignments for women are particularly important, with female leaders well-placed to integrate new knowledge, challenge old stereotypes, and turn novel opportunities to advantage.
It's easier than ever to step outside the box, with remote work, digital nomadism, and cross-border collaboration more common than ever before. By embracing new experiences, you can improve your adaptability and become a better leader in your field. For example, people who collaborate with other teams and departments are more likely to develop a well-rounded view of their industry. This also works across cultural and gender lines, as exposure to different people and viewpoints helps leaders grow.
How Both Men and Women Can Capitalize on Adaptability
Women and men are both capable of embracing adaptability and learning from it. More than theoretical skill development for leaders, these power skills can be integrated into daily working life. When people become more flexible and ready for change, they're more likely to form valuable relationships and make better decisions.
The following top leadership trends will shape 2025:
Embrace continuous learning: Stay ahead by up-skilling and being open to new technologies.
Develop cultural intelligence: Engage with diverse teams, embrace travel, and expose yourself to different perspectives.
Challenge comfort zones: Take on roles that require flexibility and quick decision-making.
Build resilience: Learn to manage uncertainty and see change as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Adaptability Is the Leadership Superpower of Now
In an era of rapid change, adaptability is the key to leadership success. Women have a natural advantage in this field, but everyone can cultivate adaptability with the right mindset and experience. Encouraging more women to step into leadership roles and embrace global opportunities will create a more innovative and resilient workforce for everyone.
Invest in your adaptability today! Seek international opportunities, embrace lifelong learning, and develop the leadership skills you need to thrive in 2025 and beyond. Through exposure and learning, you can gain new leadership experiences and future-proof your career.
Ready to take the next step? Explore our leadership training programs and find out how we can help you build these key leadership skills, and attract more global opportunities.