Leadership Effectiveness – Preparing for the Challenges Ahead

An evolving business landscape creates the need for executives to reflect on how they will lead the future

As the business landscape continues to evolve, senior executives face an increasingly complex environment that demands adaptability and a forward-thinking approach. Effective leadership today demands both the agility to tackle immediate challenges and the foresight to anticipate future disruptions and opportunities. 

This study aims to understand which leadership competencies will be most essential in driving value in the future and to assess how executives are preparing themselves and their organizations. Drawing on insights from 87 senior leaders across industries, it offers valuable perspectives straight from Portuguese boardrooms.

Looking ahead, three factors are expected to have the greatest impact on businesses: geopolitical instability, macroeconomic policies, and artificial intelligence. Fortunately, most executives believe they are prepared to lead their organizations through these challenges. Many have already implemented key initiatives, such as strengthening risk management, optimizing costs, and accelerating digital transformation.

Despite this strong foundation, executives recognize the need for further preparation. While future leadership will require a broad skill set, three core competencies are becoming increasingly important: adaptability, strategic clarity, and people development. To succeed in this evolving landscape, leaders must not only cultivate these skills themselves but also embed them within their teams and organizations. For this to happen, talent development is considered the most relevant lever to pull. 

We hope this study serves as an interesting and valuable resource for you and your organization on the path to leadership effectiveness. 

Finally, we would like to thank all contributors for their insights. Without them, this study would not have been possible.