Shaped Work Schedules and Psychological Well-being: key components 7 visionary leaders perceive for the upcoming labor landscape
In a groundbreaking survey conducted by "The Our Group", the focus on soft skills for future leaders has come to the forefront. The latest survey, #CtheFuture 3.0, polled participants from across the globe, with the top five respondent countries being India, Italy, Peru, Brazil, and the UAE.
The survey results indicate a strong preference for soft skills among the next generation of leaders, with 82% of respondents agreeing that these skills are more important than hard skills for future CEOs. This marks a significant increase from the 69% reported in 2019.
Young leaders and students prioritize problem-solving (49%), critical thinking (45%), and teamwork/networking (43%) well above technical-specific skills, indicating a pivot towards versatile, transferable soft skills that help navigate complexity and ambiguity.
The desire for these human-centered competencies is echoed in workplace learning and development, with 62% of survey respondents wanting enhanced soft/human skills development as a top organizational innovation in 2025.
HR professionals highlight empathy, change management, people-centric leadership, and cultural intelligence as critical skills for future-proofing leadership beyond 2025, blending tech fluency with human skills. Young professionals also recognize the need to balance technical abilities (e.g., AI knowledge) with emotional intelligence and critical thinking to stay competitive in future work environments.
This corroborates a global shift in leadership focus where soft skills are becoming pivotal for developing adaptive, inclusive, and strategic future leaders who can handle evolving workforce challenges and technological disruption effectively.
The survey results also highlight a significant emphasis on wellbeing, mental health, and work-life balance in the workplace. A majority of the respondents (82%) prioritize soft skills over hard skills for future leaders, reflecting a preference for empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leaders in the face of the ongoing pandemic and its aftermath.
The pandemic has resulted in changes in the way people live and work, and these changes are reflected in the survey results. The next generation's perceptions of current leadership and the future of work can drive organizational change, and the emphasis on soft skills in this survey suggests a shift towards a more human-centric approach to leadership and work.
In summary, the survey of young leaders globally by "The Our Group" aligns with broader data showing that soft skills are increasingly valued as fundamental for future leadership success compared to purely technical expertise. The focus on soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and empathy is set to play a crucial role in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
[1] Source for the data on problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork/networking: The Our Group #CtheFuture 3.0 Survey Results [2] Source for the data on empathy, change management, people-centric leadership, and cultural intelligence: HR professionals surveyed by The Our Group [3] Source for the data on workplace learning and development: The Our Group #CtheFuture 3.0 Survey Results [4] Source for the data on the balance between technical abilities and emotional intelligence: Young professionals surveyed by The Our Group [5] Source for the data on the global shift in leadership focus: Various surveys and reports on leadership trends and soft skills [6] Source for the data on the pandemic's impact on work and the workforce: Various reports on the impact of the pandemic on work and the workforce
- The future of work is predicted to prioritize soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, according to the latest survey by "The Our Group" #CtheFuture 3.0, with young leaders and students emphasizing these skills above technical-specific ones.
- In line with the focus on soft skills, the survey also indicated a strong emphasis on health-and-wellness, including mental health, in the workplace, with 82% of respondents prioritizing soft skills over hard skills for future leaders.
- As we move towards 2025, the survey revealed that workplace learning and development would place a significant emphasis on improving soft/human skills, and young professionals are recognizing the importance of balancing technical abilities with emotional intelligence and mental health to stay competitive in the future work environment.
