It Takes Versatility to Lead in a Volatile World.

Over the past three years, many leaders struggled to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic, revealing that the pre-pandemic leadership talent crisis was worse than expected. Leaders with limited skills were overwhelmed, while versatile leaders with a broader range of capabilities succeeded in guiding their organizations through unprecedented change. Research shows that versatility, defined as the ability to adapt to changing conditions with complementary behaviors, has become a crucial component of leadership, especially in a world marked by disruption. Although versatility is rare, it can be developed through diverse experiences and intentional learning, enabling leaders to balance forceful, enabling, strategic, and operational behaviors.