Viewed in Russell Reynolds
The past four years have confirmed one fact: leadership now determines whether organizations adapt or stall. Despite experience and effort, only 45% of executives believe their teams are prepared for today’s top threats. Even on familiar challenges—economic uncertainty and talent scarcity—confidence levels are under 40%.
Why this matters
Business complexity is compounding. Issues overlap, accelerate, and cut across functions. Stakeholder expectations are more polarized, disruptions arrive faster, and leaders must act on multiple time horizons at once. In this context, individual-centric models of leadership are insufficient. Org charts make these dynamics visible: they reveal power centers, reporting lines, and where collaboration can either unlock resilience or entrench silos.
What to do differently:
- Adopt an enterprise mindset. Align decisions with the long-term health of the whole enterprise, not just a unit.
- Double down on expertise and ownership. Deep functional competence, paired with clear accountability. Org charts should show both structure and ownership.
- Invest in collaborations. Cross-functional challenges (AI, sustainability) demand trust, constructive debate, and shared ownership.
- Balance stewardship and service. Pair today’s delivery with tomorrow’s investments, especially in next-gen leaders. Empower frontline employees who drive value creation.
- Monitor leadership team health. Actively manage skills, structure, alignment, culture, and succession. Today, succession is a critical weakness: only 11% of executives feel their teams regularly develop future leaders.
The shift in mindset
Reaching the top job is not the end of growth. The context keeps resetting the bar. Even the most senior leaders need structured support, feedback, and adaptation. Leadership is a collective endeavor—and organizations that embrace this will be best placed to thrive.
Acknowledgment: Our thanks to Tom Handcock (Head of Leadership Insight, London) and Bob Marcus, (Senior Leadership Advisor, New York) for thoughtful perspectives.
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