How to Build Leaders Who Deliver on Today’s CEO Mandate
Today’s message is an important one.
As we head into the fall, let’s pause for a moment and reflect.
Where are we? What has changed over the past few years?
The Shift from People-First to Performance-Driven Leadership
Back in 2022, organizations were focused on building a people-first culture. We were fresh out of the pandemic, and leaders leaned into connection, communication, inclusion, and belonging.
Fast forward to 2025, and the tone has shifted.
Many of the CEOs I work with are now laser-focused on accountability and ownership.
It’s no longer just about how employees feel at work, but it’s also about how you perform, deliver, and compete on a global stage.
The New Leadership Expectations
Leaders are now expected to “step up and have the tough conversations” as one CEO that I work with told her senior team last week.
Leaders are also expected to drive performance, accelerate productivity, AND still balance humanity in the way they lead.
This is a big ask.
Leadership development has become non-negotiable.
Why? Well, executives can’t just tell people that they need to be accountable, drive performance, and still be nice!!!
They have to teach them HOW to do these core leadership requirements.
Take Mark, a VP I’ve been working with. A year ago, his focus was on building culture and making sure his team felt connected in a hybrid environment.
Fast forward to today, and his CEO has a different ask. He told Mark, “We need to raise the bar. Productivity must increase.”
Mark quickly realized that what got him here wasn’t enough anymore. To be honest, he was really stressed out about his new directive from his CEO.
So, I taught Mark how to set clearer expectations, how to hold his team accountable, and how to deliver feedback that was both kind and direct.
It wasn’t easy, but now that he has developed these skills, he is more confident as a leader. Plus, he has noticed that his team actually appreciated the clarity, and their performance has started to rise.
That’s the reality leaders are facing right now.
Essential Skills for Today’s Leaders
Organizations can’t afford to leave leadership to chance. Leaders need to be trained on:
- How to deliver feedback that is productive, thoughtful, and kind
- How to run impactful performance reviews and facilitate regular performance check-ins
- How to hold people accountable without breaking trust
The Importance of Investing in Leadership Development Now
It’s a stressful time to be a leader. Expectations are rising. The spotlight is brighter. The pressure is real.
So, here’s my question to you: What is your organization doing to help leaders build the skills they need to succeed in today’s world?
Because one thing is certain…the game has changed!
The organizations that invest in their leaders today will be the ones that will thrive tomorrow.
