In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, where organizations face challenges from AI disruption to shifting work attitudes, successful leadership requires a fresh approach. Recent interviews with industry veterans highlight the rise of the ‘connecting leader’ – one who embraces a culture of learning, purpose, and coaching to drive both personal growth and business success.
The Power of a Learning Mindset
Former WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge emphasized the importance of cultivating a ‘learning moments’ mindset in a recent interview. He noted that successful leaders in 2025 need to create an environment where experimentation and shared knowledge are encouraged. ‘The most effective leaders see every situation, even failures, as an opportunity to learn and grow,’ Ridge explained.
This sentiment was echoed by Monica Haywood, Principal Technical Program Manager at Microsoft, who stated: ‘I had to reflect on a failed program. I learned the art of transparency. We have a saying at Microsoft of ’embrace the red.’ I learned to use failure as a data point.’
Leading with Purpose and Values
Another key trait of connecting leaders is their ability to align teams around a shared purpose and values. Cory Sims, Managing Member at Sims Investment Management, highlighted this in a recent panel: ‘The best leaders that I’ve been around are the ones who are very open-handed. They are giving to everybody with their time, which is our most precious commodity.’
This focus on purpose-driven leadership is particularly resonant with younger employees entering the workforce. As Sadam Maserka, a participant in a recent leadership academy, noted: ‘A good leader is someone who brings out the best traits in you. They influence you to use your voice, create positive change and be inclusive of others.’
The Leader as Coach
Perhaps the most significant shift in leadership approach for 2025 is the move towards leaders acting as coaches rather than traditional bosses. This involves empowering teams to find solutions, drive innovation, and take ownership of their work.
Walk the Moon guitarist Eli Maiman illustrated this approach in action: ‘After the devastation washed over us, we all stared at each other and we’re like, ‘We are going to do this rock-and-roll style, old school.’ And you know what, everybody in the crew and everybody in the band agrees that this was the best show we ever played.’
By fostering an environment where team members feel empowered to take risks and find creative solutions, connecting leaders can unlock new levels of performance and engagement.
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion
Finally, connecting leaders in 2025 recognize the critical importance of building diverse, inclusive teams. This goes beyond simply meeting quotas to actively seeking out and valuing different perspectives.
As Judah Jenkins, a participant in a recent leadership program, reflected: ‘The biggest insight I learned was that just because our personalities are a certain way now, that doesn’t mean they can’t change or develop over time. No personality fits into one box or exactly matches one description — we are all bits and pieces from all kinds of places.’
By embracing this diversity of thought and experience, connecting leaders can build more innovative, resilient organizations capable of thriving in an uncertain future.
As we move further into 2025, it’s clear that the most successful leaders will be those who can connect – with their teams, with a sense of purpose, and with the rapidly changing world around them. By embracing a learning mindset, leading with values, coaching rather than commanding, and championing diversity, these connecting leaders are poised to guide their organizations through the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
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