Today’s world is being rewritten in real time, at a pace faster than any transformation we have seen. It is hard to admit, but leadership is changing, too, faster than most leaders are ready for.
We used to feel grounded by business playbooks, best practices, and decades of experience. But the old rules no longer apply. Workplaces have changed. Our teams span geographies, generations, and expectations. AI is now in our meetings, documents, and decisions. Our attention spans are shaped by the swipe: short, fast, and fragmented.
This shift shapes where we work, how we communicate, how trust is built, how knowledge is shared, and what people expect from work and life.
We, the leaders, are no longer the primary holders of information. Our teams have access to more knowledge, technology, and choices than ever before.
So, what does leadership look like when everyone has the map, but the ground keeps shifting under us?
The essence of leadership today is the connection between people, ideas, and purpose. And embracing this is the key to unlocking the collective potential needed to navigate what comes next.
The Leadership Skills Shift
The shift from knowing to connecting is happening where human teams and intelligent systems now work side by side. It reaches into how we guide and collaborate, how we build cultures that welcome difference, how we fuel curiosity, and how we leverage collective energy.
Here are some shifts I see coming into view, with far more still unfolding.
1. From Control to Co-Creation
Leadership once meant knowing the way and directing others. Now, it’s about connecting people and systems, including intelligent tools, to co-create solutions. Executive presence has moved from commanding the room to creating space for trust, clarity, and connection—even on a screen.
2. From Culture Fit to Culture Stretch
Ask yourself: how many times have you hesitated to hire someone because you feared they wouldn’t be a “good fit”? It is a common concern for leaders who want to preserve company culture when, in fact, we should be focused on preserving company values. Culture is a living, evolving organism. Instead of sameness, we need elasticity. We grow through our differences, building cultures that stretch to embrace new ways of thinking. And that is what promotes innovation.
3. From Certainty to Curiosity
Leaders are expected to project confidence and find certainty to make decisions. Certainty often feels like the last thing we have today, but in its absence, curiosity propels us forward. Staying open, asking better questions, and inviting new perspectives help us better understand ideas and opportunities, and build stronger bonds with one another. It takes humility to challenge what we once taught and courage to learn again.
4. From Lone Achievers to Collaborative Champions
Assembling a team of talented individuals is only half the battle. Success is not the sum of individual achievements or knowledge. It is about connecting the team’s collective intelligence, trust, and strengths to achieve shared goals. Connecting human strengths, empowered by technology, is not just nice to have. It is how we win.
5. From Results-First to Results Through People
Results come not just from flawless execution of strategy but from how we connect to our team’s energy and well-being. We lead by nurturing that collective energy, fostering psychological safety and purpose so people can bring their best together.
When we move from knowing to connecting, we stop trying to control every outcome. This is where individual talents, diverse perspectives, and bold ideas come together, multiplying their impact. That is what leadership in this era requires.
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
This moment doesn’t come with a playbook. Maybe that’s the point.
We are being called to lead with connection, humility, inspiration, and adaptability. The truth? We are still learning, experimenting, rethinking, and evolving.
The essence of leadership in this era is connection, not perfection. It’s about asking better questions, choosing growth over comfort, and showing up with courage, even when the road ahead is still under construction.
Follow Rosandra’s Journey
Who Is Rosandra Silveira?
Rosandra Silveira is Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Channel Sales at Dell Technologies. She leads large multicultural teams across geographies and is passionate about shaping human-centered leadership for the future of work.
