By Contributor,Rachel Wells

Copyright forbes

Leadership skills rank as number one amongst workers at Fortune 500 companies, even more than AI skills

Leadership today looks radically different since the aftermath of the pandemic.

It’s less about the old-fashioned notion of control, authority, command, and micromanagement, and more about building resilience, empathy, and what McKinsey’s researchers term a “leadership factory.”

The high-performing leaders of 2025 and of tomorrow will be well-equipped to lead the future of work because of the leadership qualities that I’ll share below. If your goal is to secure a promotion this year or next year, mastering these qualities and skills are non-negotiable. This is your opportunity to step up and fill the gaps in your organization, progress in your career, and increase your earning potential as well.

Recent McKinsey research findings conclude that these six leadership qualities and traits are imperative for new and current leaders and managers:

Positive energy, personal balance, and inspiration

Servant leadership

Continuous learning and humble, growth mindset

Grit and resilience

Levity (humor unlocks creativity, sparks employee engagement, and drives motivation especially in high-pressure scenarios)

Stewardship

Why You Need These Leadership Qualities

When you look through this list, you’ll notice that the one thing that stands out the most as a common theme: human-centeredness and a strong focus on connection and relatability.

This is because workers today need to feel a sense of security, belonging, and hope about their own careers, especially in a time like this when the future of work appears uncertain for many, with AI and layoffs unravelling the very notion of job security.

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Companies need their leaders and managers to rise to the challenge and be relatable and employee-first, balancing their interests above personal gain or shareholder interests.

How Do You Demonstrate Leadership Qualities On Your Resume?

Researchers at DoFollow.com noted that one of the top skills that was most sought after in employees from industry giants such as Big Tech and Fortune 500 companies (Microsoft, Apple, etc.) is leadership skills, appearing in more than 600,000 employee profiles. This was followed by project management, with the next most in-demand power skill being management and communication.

Note, leadership skills appeared first, way before AI-related and tech skills, showcasing just how essential this skill set is, even with non-managers. You don’t need to have direct reports or desire to climb the ladder to be required to have leadership skills, because they’re useful in other areas of your work, such as stakeholder management and relations, self-management, and mentoring.

However, if your goal is to work your way up the ladder and gain a promotion, having these leadership qualities demonstrated throughout your resume is even more critical.

Here are some creative ways to include these leadership skills and qualities throughout your resume:

Highlight any awards that you’ve received within your team or recognition from your manager, that demonstrate these leadership qualities.

Point directly to examples of where you fostered a positive, high-performance, results-driven culture.

Use bullet points throughout your work experience that showcase how you’ve mentored and empowered others to achieve their work milestones and progress in their career within the company.

Highlight any recent certifications, bootcamps, or courses you’ve undertaken voluntarily, both in and outside of work, specifically for in-demand skills such as applied AI, data, communication skills, and project management.

Point to a portfolio of projects undertaken while studying and upskilling.

Showcase specific achievements that occurred during times of change and uncertainty or challenge, such as conflict resolution, crisis management, transformations, or sustaining KPIs and strong growth despite industry downturns.

Note specific contributions to positive team culture.

Choose your language carefully for each of your bullet points and in your professional summary to show how you have been accountable for allocation of resources, budgets, managing up stakeholders, etc.

To be promoted into leadership and management roles, it’s not enough to be a high-performer at work and score well in your performance reviews. “Rather than simply command and control, leaders must collaborate and coach,” McKinsey writes. And authenticity among leaders…is expected by employees, customers, and almost everyone along the value chain.”

Ask yourself:

“How well do I demonstrate these leadership qualities in my day-to-day at work?”

Having a growth mindset is an essential ongoing requirement for leadership roles

If you enjoyed this read, check out my recent Forbes article, 17 AI Skills To Put On Your Resume In 2025.

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