The 8 most important leadership skills in 2025
Professional skills and sound knowledge are important prerequisites for being successful as a manager. However, these skills alone are no longer enough these days, because leadership in 2025 is different to what it was just a few years ago: It is more modern, more agile and, above all, more people-centered. While hierarchical thinking and control were often the focus in the past, the focus today is on empowerment, trust and qualified interaction with employees, because they don’t just want a paycheck at the end of the month, they want to find meaning in their work, feel valued and be able to develop their individual strengths. This presents managers with the challenge of adapting themselves and their management style. We show the most important skills that modern managers should have in order to successfully face these changes.
1. technological competence
From automation and data analysis to AI-based decision-making processes – managers should understand and be able to use the possibilities of modern technology in order to avoid being left behind by the competition. At the same time, they should anticipate technological trends in order to prepare their team for them and support them in their application. Regular training and open-mindedness towards new technologies are therefore important in order to be able to deal with current developments such as digitalization, artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making processes.
2. empathy and emotional intelligence
Empathy is more than just a social skill – it is a key to creating a positive and trusting working environment. However, empathy is still often viewed negatively, especially by long-established managers. It is easy to forget that employees who feel understood and valued are usually highly motivated and happy to commit to the company. Such employees do their best within the scope of their abilities to contribute to the company’s success. In contrast, unrealistic expectations or unappreciative treatment of employees can lead to them becoming demotivated or even quitting. Emotional intelligence also helps managers to recognize and resolve conflicts and to identify the needs of their team and the individual strengths and weaknesses of their employees.
Our tip: Even if you have been a manager for many years, don’t be afraid to attend management training courses. There you will learn about suitable management styles and how to deal with modern employees in the best possible way, for example by holding regular feedback meetings, practising active listening or showing empathy through personal conversations.
3. mindfulness, self-reflection and critical faculties
Managers not only need to know their teams well, but also themselves. Mindfulness helps you to better understand your own impact on others, while self-reflection promotes personal growth. Both are important, because even the most experienced manager can still learn something new or make a mistake. Managers should therefore also be open to constructive feedback. The ability to take criticism means being able to admit mistakes and grow from them. This shows strength and a willingness to develop further, while also acting as a role model. Dealing openly with criticism enables mistakes to be rectified quickly, strengthens the team’s trust and promotes a culture of continuous improvement.
Practical tips: Get regular feedback, both from employees and from colleagues. Try not to take criticism personally, but to see it as an opportunity for further development and improvement.
4. adaptability and agility
The only constant in the modern working world is change. Whether due to new technologies, economic changes or unexpected events such as a pandemic, flexibility is essential. Companies must be able to react quickly to new challenges, and this also applies to their managers. Those who cling strongly to old convictions and resist change will not be successful in the future. Modern managers should therefore be able to react quickly to change, recognize new opportunities and promote innovation. To do this, it is important that they can make decisions as confidently, quickly and data-based as possible.
5. trustworthiness
A good relationship between employees and managers is based on trust. This means that employees can rely on their managers to be predictable and honest, to stick to agreements, to communicate transparently, to offer security and not to take advantage of committed employees for their own benefit. However, trust is not given away, but must be actively built up through the behavior and decisions of managers. This is worthwhile, because employees who have trust can play a full part in the company and thus contribute a great deal to its success.
6. communication skills
Clear and effective communication is essential, especially in a hybrid working environment. Good communication ensures clear expectations, reduces misunderstandings and promotes collaboration. However, it can be difficult to find the right balance between too much and too little communication.
Our tips: Communication skills can be learned or improved relatively easily. For example, work on organizing meetings efficiently, listening carefully to your team and formulating clear objectives. Digital communication tools such as MS Teams or project management software also make it easier to communicate effectively.
7. resilience
In difficult times, it is crucial to remain calm and radiate confidence. Resilient managers can lead their team through challenges and use setbacks as learning opportunities. To do this, they need to keep an overview, be able to deal with stress and have efficient time and self-management skills to withstand the pressure.
8. sustainability awareness
Managers bear a lot of responsibility. This includes responsibility for the social and ecological orientation of their companies. Sustainability is increasingly becoming a competitive factor, as more and more customers attach great importance to it. In order to be prepared for the future, managers should therefore have a good awareness of sustainability. This enables them to implement sustainable initiatives within the company, integrate ESG (environment, social, governance) goals and make environmentally conscious decisions.
Conclusion
The demands placed on managers will continue to evolve. Artificial intelligence, globalization and social changes will bring new challenges, but also opportunities. Therefore, the most important skill is that managers remain open to continuous learning and see their role not only as instructors, but also as inspirers and supporters. Those who internalize this attitude will not only lead a successful team, but also shape their own career in a sustainable way.
Some of the skills mentioned are easy to learn, while others can be supported by clever software. Management software such as myPARM CorporateNavigator, for example, helps to make decisions quickly and based on data, while the integrated communication system facilitates communication with the team.
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