Adam Grant: The key trait future leaders need to succeed - and rethinking the classic workday

Big shifts must happen to ready teams for a work future that requires agile thinking and new forms of collaboration. Organizational psychologist, best-selling author and Wharton professor Adam Grant shares research-backed strategies that help develop leaders and work relationships across an organization as well as help teams practice critical soft skills like analysis and creativity that are often overlooked and undervalued. He explains why future workers will need to become “job crafters,” and the one trait leaders won’t be able to work without. He’ll also share what a college job as a magician taught him about engaging skeptics (and prompting critical thinking) and why he swears by keeping a “To-Don’t” list.

This interview was recorded in January 2025 at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland

About this episode:
-Adam grant:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@adammgrant
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0uFXKiNiC05GOrjE9AXnkn
-Future of Jobs Report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/

Related Podcasts:
-How leaders can prepare teams for the future of work: ADP’s Chief Economist: https://tinyurl.com/mrpm57k6
-Upskilling, tapping human talents, and what's really needed for the future of work: Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/ravi-kumar-cognizant-future-technology/