The New Leaders

The kind of leadership our world craves today isn't found in the board rooms, Washington DC, or in lofty titles. The leaders that could change everything are already among us—unseen, unnamed, and right beside us. The world is changing, and with that change comes a growing realization: the old ways of leadership are falling short. People are tired of leaders who are driven by ego, greed, and power—those who lead for ambition, personal profit, or status. Many are losing trust in the systems that were meant to guide us. We've seen institutions buckle under their own weight, disconnected from the real needs of the people. In this post I want to talk about the rise of a new breed of leaders—a new kind of leader not defined by titles or power, but by a set of values that are humanity-centered. These are leaders who exist within our communities, who are not motivated by what they can gain, but by what they can give, what they can build, and how they can elevate us all. As Adam Grant discusses in his book Power Moves, there is a clear distinction between givers and takers. Givers are motivated by a desire to uplift others, while takers are primarily focused on their own gains. They want to know what they can get out of it. We can tell a lot about who those takers are by the language they use. That is why the loudest in the room may gain your attention, but they also reveal their intentions. I want to explore how we can tap into our own intentions as we all are ushered into a new world, a new way of being and discover the new leader within.

Limitations of Traditional Leadership

What has history taught us about the empires that fall? In The Changing World Order, Ray Dalio explains that fallen empires often share common characteristics: leadership stagnation, excessive debt, widening wealth gaps, and a disconnect between leaders and the general population. As leadership becomes increasingly self-serving, the values and unity that once held these societies together begin to deteriorate. I want to encourage you to listen to the video by Ray Dalio, The Changing World Order. The key aspect that resonates with me is the notion of 'the values and unity that once held societies together.' While the exact nature of those values is open to debate, it is evident that without fostering unity and preventing chaos, these values cannot be considered true values of the people.??

In March 2024, American City & County published an article highlighting a significant decline in public trust toward local government leaders. The 2023 State of Local Government Leadership Pipeline survey, conducted by Government Leadership Solutions in partnership with Envisio, revealed that local government leaders are acutely aware of this erosion of trust and its detrimental impact on their effectiveness. This decline in trust undermines the ability of public sector institutions to serve their communities effectively. This erosion of trust is not confined to local governments; it reflects a broader trend affecting various institutions. Read my previous post on my Substack: How Our Leaders Are Failing Us.

Recent studies also show a big trust gap between corporate leaders and employees. For example, a 2023 report from the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance found that while 79% of executives believe their employees trust the company, only 65% of employees actually agree, and a 2024 PwC survey found that while 86% of executives think they have their employees' trust, only 60% of employees agree. This tells me that there is a disconnect between our leaders and the people they serve resulting in policies and actions that don't align with the collective.?

Characteristics of the New Leaders

So who are these new leaders? Well, I will say they are not here to save us. I see these new leaders as change-makers that are willing to take the road less traveled and clear the way of this path for us to follow. At the same time, they are a model for us to clear our own paths along the way with a periphery beyond the space they inhabit. These new leaders are focused on the community and the people within the community. They can evolve their thinking because they have an openness and curiosity about life. They are not dismissive or demonizing of others because they are driven by learning and flourish on co-creating and collaborating. They are not solitary heroes but believe in the power of collective action to make a true difference. These are all human-centered values, which shape their intentions, and those intentions drive their actions.?

I believe that we are in a time where we will see change at a community level more so than a global scale. This will grow the new leaders. Community development will be the training ground that nurtures this growth. As we are forced to take a more micro lens at the needs in our communities, people will come together to address those needs and step up to lead and facilitate change. This is what will replace the old mechanism of hierarchy and competition. This will transform how we think about education, health, safety, work, and the environment.?

There is the potential for these shifts in the corporate environment as more leaders embrace their true role with a deeper understanding of leadership. Leaders must recognize that it is entirely possible to drive profits while centering the well-being of their employees and stakeholders. Top-heavy organizations will not survive in this new era. Those that do survive without adapting will struggle, because the true lifeline of any business is the health and well-being of its team.

A lot of work still needs to be done in the area of leadership development. To address these issues, effective leadership development must go beyond basic training and incorporate deeper elements like Emotional Intelligence and personal healing. We see this need in the workplace as 84% of U.S. workers believe poorly trained managers create unnecessary stress, contributing to a toxic culture. Leaders lacking self-awareness—unable to perceive their own weaknesses, emotions, and behaviors—can contribute to lower team morale and decreased organizational commitment. A lack of personal healing and development often limits a leader's ability to effectively support and uplift their teams.

The Potential of New Leadership

There is a lot we can critique, but it is now time to turn the lens back on ourselves and ask some hard questions about our own intentions.

1. Are my actions aligning with values that serve others, rather than just my own interest?
2. How can I actively work to create a culture of empathy, support and respect?
3. How am I modeling leadership to my team?
4. Do I embody the qualities I expect from others-such as transparency, empathy and collaboration? If we want something different, we have to do things differently.?

This new leadership begins within each of us. It is not about titles, it is about actions and the impact we leave on those around us. It may be a challenge, but if we practice self-awareness, and prioritize collective well-being, this new leadership can lead to a new era—one defined by equity, empathy, and collaboration. This is the foundation for creating communities and organizations where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute to something greater.