Charles Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.

Keeping a hawk eye on our top-selected areas of influence for the coming year will prepare you to respond and be your best in a daunting, but exciting future.

1 – Business Agility
In 2025, we’ll see more economic and geopolitical uncertainty, new technologies will emerge, and the hybrid work model will become even more popular. Businesses will need to adopt agile cultures to stay ahead and find creative ways to take people with them.

The COVID era in South Africa saw a staggering amount of business liquidations. Lockdown required adaptation that was beyond many. Agile businesses, however, responded quickly and evolved.

A McKinsey report details that agile businesses have a 70% chance of being in the top tier of their industry and will shape the future.

2 – Skills-Based Talent Management
More companies are focusing on specific skills over traditional metrics like job titles or years of experience. A large, flexible pool of skills aligns with the shift towards custom and collaborative-oriented business practices.

Unilever, for instance, has reconstructed various roles into bundles of skills that include ingenuity, adaptability, innovation, resourcefulness and resilience.

A Deloitte study revealed that up to 90% of business executives are now exploring skills-based approaches. They’re separating work from titles and experimenting with flexible skills deployment.

In addition, Gen Z workers, who make up an increasing percentage of the workforce, prefer skills development over traditional titles.

3 – The Focus on People
The call for inclusivity will be greater than ever. Top talent are choosing to work where they can enjoy a sense of belonging. Companies that prioritise DEI practices provide a welcoming environment. Research shows that employees who feel they belong are 18 times more likely to stay.

To develop inclusivity as a strength, your business must implement authentic people-focused initiatives from recruitment to management.

Leaders will need to innovate and focus on people’s development. They’ll need to promote safe sharing within their teams and encourage ideas to help with productivity and growth.

4 – Emotionally Intelligent Leadership
There’s also a spotlight on emotional intelligence. Leaders who are self-aware, composed, empathetic and skilled at navigating social situations are being favoured for their healthy emotional mechanisms.

Employees want leaders like these who can acknowledge and validate their feelings. Emotionally intelligent leaders are also better at communicating, handling conflict, adapting to new environments and developing people. These are critical skills for the evolving workplace.

5 – Modern Coaching and Development
More organisations are asking for cutting-edge coaching applications.

To supply the demand, many coaches now use generative AI Co-Pilots, data analytics platforms, and natural language processing tools to deliver digitally enhanced development. Organisations are enjoying a highly customised experience because of it.

Hybrid coaching approaches with Virtual Meetups are also gaining popularity.

They give clients access to a larger pool of experts and save on travelling time and money. This suits increasingly busy lifestyles and helps clients who require anonymity or struggle to express themselves in person.