Leading Through the Noise: What We’re Seeing in Leadership Right Now
I’ve been in leadership development long enough to know that every year brings new buzzwords, new frameworks, and new “must-have” skills. Yet 2025 has felt different. The conversations I’m having with leaders across industries aren’t just about performance or productivity, they’re about survival. About staying human in a system that’s increasingly automated, fragmented, and uncertain.
If you’re leading a team right now, you probably feel it too.
The Real Challenges Leaders Are Facing
Here’s what’s coming up again and again in our work, and it’s backed by research:
Uncertainty is the new normal. According to a Forbes article citing DDI’s global survey, 42% of CEOs say navigating uncertainty is their top concern. And it’s not just economic, it’s cultural, technological, and existential.
AI is moving faster than leadership readiness. Korn Ferry’s 2025 Leadership Trends report shows that while 71% of CEOs believe AI will enhance their value, many still don’t know how to integrate it without losing the human element.
Communication is breaking down. The “Great Squeeze” described by Forbes captures it well: leaders are being asked to move faster, deliver more, and connect deeper all at once. The result? Misalignment, burnout, and a growing sense of isolation.
Burnout isn’t just an employee issue—it’s a leadership epidemic. In Korn Ferry’s Workforce 2025 Survey, 43% of senior executives say they doubt their ability to fulfill their responsibilities. That’s not a confidence gap, it’s a crisis of capacity.
The leadership pipeline is thinning. A Forbes piece warns that 70% of C-suite leaders are considering leaving their roles within 18 months. Meanwhile, younger leaders are hesitant to step up, citing stress and lack of support.
So, What Do We Do?
I don’t believe in silver bullets. Though I do believe in frameworks that help us slow down, reflect, and lead with more intention.
That’s why we use the Energy Leadership® in our work, not as a fix-all, as a lens. It helps leaders understand how they’re showing up energetically, how they’re reacting under pressure, and how they can shift into more constructive, sustainable ways of leading.
It’s not about being “high energy” all the time. It’s about being conscious of the energy you bring into the room, especially when the room is tense, tired, or tuned out.
A Personal Invitation
If any of this resonates with you, if you’re feeling the squeeze, the fatigue, or the fog, we’d love to talk.
Not to pitch you. Just to listen. And if it makes sense, we can explore whether our Energy Leadership programs might be a fit for you or your team.
Schedule a call to see if this work is right for where you are.
Link to schedule: https://connect.desiredeffectsld.com/widget/booking/qtNgAm3dhocav3VbZcCC
