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.19: Lead change with heart, not just plans
Change is inevitable, but success isn’t. New research with The Harris Poll shows employees can realistically absorb only 1–2 major changes a year, yet most leaders expect three or more in the next two years. The margin for error is thinner than ever.
The differentiator? How leaders show up. Change is 5.5x more likely to fail without visible leadership and effective communication. Employees don’t just need strategy updates—they need leaders who connect with empathy, communicate honestly, and make them feel part of the journey.
Leading with heart doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means:
- Acknowledging the human impact. Burnout, dissatisfaction and turnover are common when employees don’t feel seen or heard. Start by listening and creating real feedback loops.
- Communicating with clarity and care. Clear messaging doubles change success, but when communication is paired with empathy and dialogue, success rates triple.
- Being visible and credible. Employees want to see their leaders, not just read another email. Showing up consistently, in town halls, videos or team conversations, signals commitment and builds trust.
The bottom line: successful change is less about managing tasks and more about leading people. When leaders combine discipline with heart, they not only reduce the risks of failed transformation—they unlock resilience, performance, and engagement that endure long after the change effort ends.
Download the research report, The Change Tipping Point, to see key headlines, implications, and actions for leaders so you can turn change from a risk to a competitive leadership advantage.
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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