As The Grossman Group celebrates 25 years, Ragan is partnering with them to share the top attributes they see in modern leaders today.
Modern leadership attribute No. 22: Lead change at the speed of trust
In an environment where AI is driving 1/3 of strategic transformations, organizations risk overwhelming their people.
Most employees can only absorb 1–2 major changes per year, yet over 50% of leaders expect three or more, according to a new enterprise change study with The Harris Poll. The result? Burnout, disengagement and a growing empathy gap between leaders and their teams.
The heart first difference
Heart First Leadership is about recognizing that behind every initiative are people: human beings with fears, aspirations and limits. It’s not about slowing change; it’s about leading it in a way that keeps people connected and capable.
Employees told us the success factors that matter most aren’t technical or tactical. They’re human:
- Empathy in communication
- Opportunities to give feedback, and
- A clear “why” behind the change
Bring people along by making change personal.
- Listen first, change second. Create real opportunities for dialogue before launching your next initiative. Employees who feel heard are 3.2x more likely to be bought in.
- Communicate the human “why.” Connect every transformation to how it improves your people’s experience and purpose.
- Be visible in uncertainty. Model confidence and candor, acknowledge what’s unknown while showing faith in your team’s ability to adapt.
The bottom line
When everything around you accelerates, empathy becomes your competitive advantage. The leaders who win won’t be those who move fastest, but those who move with their people, creating clarity, calm and commitment along the way.
Curious about taking a Heart First approach to leadership? David Grossman is publishing a new book on the topic, called The Heart Work of Modern Leadership in Q1 2026. Put your name on the list to get pre-sale access.
About The Modern Leader series
Discover actionable insights released biweekly, designed to help you elevate your own leadership impact and drive the business results you seek.
So, how do you know if you’re a modern leader?
Modern leaders stand apart through their ability to balance head and heart in today’s complex workplace, integrating emotional intelligence with strategic thinking.
New research with The Harris Poll (publishing Summer 2025) shows only 30% of leaders truly meet their teams’ evolving needs — but that elite group leads with “their heart IN their head” and consistently demonstrates six key differentiators.
They:
- Lead with gratitude.
- Listen and empathize.
- Foster an inclusive culture.
- Communicate with context.
- Connect strategy to employee growth.
- Enable employees to meet the moment.
To see additional ways you can differentiate yourself as a modern leader, check out the collection of modern leadership attributes (added bi-weekly) here.
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