A Guide To What You Should Know:

Effective
Leadership in
the 21 Century
st
In 2018, 64 percent of all U.S. companies said
their number one strategic priority was closing
their current leadership skill gaps. And that’s
not just lip service—these companies invested
$31 billion on leadership programs in 2017 in an
effort to do just that.

What’s more, companies are reporting that

they plan to increase their total spending
on leadership development initiatives in the
next few years—now treating professional
development as an integral component of their
business strategy.

This strategic investment is a wise one; research

shows that leadership quality is a significant
determinant of an organization’s success.
Companies with strong leaders experience
better overall organizational performance,
including higher levels of customer satisfaction,
organizational productivity, financial gains,
and product quality. Effective leadership also
positively impacts employee retention, performance,
engagement, and morale.

And yet, despite the clear criticality of quality

leadership, 84 percent of organizations predict that
they will experience a shortage of skilled leaders in
the next five years. Why? Because in an increasingly
complex, global society characterized by frequent
digital and societal disruption, leadership—and
the skills required to be an effective leader—have
changed. Tomorrow’s visionary leaders will be
the individuals who are able to evolve and master
these new skills to bring their organizations to
unprecedented heights.

Considering this rapidly increasing demand, now

is the right time to improve and develop the skills
required to lead effectively in today’s world. This guide
will help identify the skills you’ll need—and how to
develop them—to take the next step in advancing
both your organization and your career.
How Leadership Has Changed

Businesses, universities, and the general public view

leadership quite differently now than they did in
generations past, says Dr. Mary Ludden, PhD, MBA, PMP,
faculty director for Northeastern University’s Master of
Science in Leadership program. What was once seen as
a straightforward pursuit—one that could be templated
and taught—is now recognized as a complex, multi-faceted
discipline that requires flexible problem-solving and
cultural agility.

And it’s not just the perception of leadership that’s

changed. Over time, as technology has enabled rapid
innovation, constant communication, and global
interconnectivity, the demands placed on leaders have
evolved, too.

Historically, Ludden says, autocratic leadership

reigned supreme. Now, however, most organizations

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view transparency, collaborative decision-making,
and shared transformation as measures of a
leader’s success.

“Leadership no longer means simply managing

individuals and projects. Rather, today’s leaders
continually create and manage change. They must
constantly evolve, finding new ways to engage,
motivate, inspire, influence, and transform,”
Ludden says.

And, as leaders’ responsibilities have shifted, she

says, so has the job market. Rather than hire leaders
seeking to “stabilize the ship,” organizations now
actively recruit leaders who are comfortable with—
and thrive in—the choppy waters of ambiguous,
high-velocity, environments.
Emerging Trends in Leadership

Among these changes, Ludden says there are four key

trends emerging that aspiring and current leaders should
keep in mind:

Cross-cultural leadership

In an increasingly globalized world with a rising number

of modernized countries, skillful cross-cultural leadership is
becoming more and more highly valued.

Strategic agility

Business teams, technologies, and products are

evolving at a rapid pace. Leaders who can adapt
quickly to new circumstances—and who can utilize
their existing assets to lead teams and projects in the
process—are rising to the top.
Gender-based leadership Career Outlook

Research has found the increased business value of

more inclusive and equal leadership practices, and
top companies are taking note, bringing more women
into the C-suite than ever before.

Integrity-based topics

In an age of revolutionary advancement, where

technology is making previously impossible capabilities
a reality, it’s critical that leaders maintain integrity-based
decision-making processes and weigh what is “right”
with what is possible.
The Skills of Today’s Most
Effective Leaders

Globalization and technological innovation have drastically

shifted the skills required to succeed as a leader. By
developing these evolved leadership skills, Ludden says,
professionals can increase their ability to make an impact at
any organization they choose.

According to Ludden, in addition to the more “traditional”

leadership qualities, such as effective communication and
strategic thinking, today’s most effective leaders must
possess newer, adaptive skills to address the trends and
changes in the world, combining intellectual rigor and creative
problem solving with ethical behavior and culturally agile
interpersonal skills. She calls this set of skills her “political-
socioeconomic-global toolbox.”

Ludden acknowledges that there is no one blueprint for being

a successful leader; there are many leadership styles and
philosophies to choose from. There are, however, certain
qualities that all exemplary leaders share that enable them to
inspire, motivate, and unify others to achieve a shared vision.

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Today’s most successful leaders are:

Responsive to change

According to a recent study, one of the top leadership

challenges is managing change and innovation. But by
remaining nimble and adaptive in response to shifting
market demands, changes in technology, increasing
competition, project roadblocks, and perceived failures,
leaders can successfully navigate an organization
through change, all while setting a positive tone for the
rest of the organization.

Exceptional communicators

In an age of constant and rapid change, effective

communication skills are critical, Ludden says. This includes
written and oral communication not just to subordinates,
but also to superiors and external stakeholders, including
customers and investors. According to a survey by Harvard
Business Review, clear communication of expectations
(upward, downward, and outward) is among the top
three skills required for quality leadership. Beyond
communicating expectations, leaders must also harness
these skills to motivate teams, respond to problems, engage
employees, and effectively relay their strategic vision.

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Business-savvy

It may seem that this should go without saying, but

strong business management skills are critical to quality
leadership. A strong leader should possess sharp
financial acumen and be able to balance business growth
strategies with revenue and expenditures, identify and
track meaningful KPIs, and critically forecast the impact
of their decisions. For people without these skills, Ludden
says, leadership may not be the right path.

Culturally aware

In today’s interconnected world, leaders of any

organization, whether a small business or multi-national
corporation, should think broadly and internationally.
It’s critical, Ludden says, that leaders consider the cross-
cultural implications of their decision making. Further,
they should seek to improve and develop their ability to
communicate and lead teams across cultures—currently
one of the leadership skills companies say they struggle
with most.

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Ethical decision-makers

Strong leaders must have the capacity to make decisions in

an efficient manner to achieve results; they cannot hesitate
when it comes time to act. In today’s world, however,
fearless decision-making isn’t enough. Now under a social
media-charged microscope, leaders must consider the
ethical implications of their choices and maintain their
moral compass when faced with potential dilemmas.

Leaders who are consistently ethical—who clearly

communicate their values and make decisions that reflect
them—are more likely to gain the trust and respect of
their teams, which in turn increases the likelihood of
project success.

In the area of key metrics like

financial performance, organizations
with the highest quality leaders were
13 times more likely to outperform
their industry competitors.
Source: Development Dimensions International (DDI)
Entrepreneurial

Ludden says that the most successful leaders think like

entrepreneurs. They think broadly and innovatively and
are willing to take strategic risks and make investments
for the betterment of the company.

Keenly self-aware

One of the key changes in how we now think about

leadership, Ludden says, revolves around the idea of
self-awareness. It’s critical for individuals to conduct a
thorough exploration of themselves as leaders, including
both their strengths and weaknesses, before moving on to
lead others, she says.

To be effective, leaders should be transparent with

themselves and take charge of their own professional and
personal development. By recognizing one’s strengths and
limitations, leaders are more apt to take an introspective
step back when making decisions.

And, research shows that leaders who balance their

strengths and decisiveness with honesty and humility enjoy
greater team integration, collaboration, and flexibility.

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How A Graduate Education Can
Improve Your Leadership Skills

If you’re feeling less than confident in your current

abilities in these areas, don’t fret; these skills can
be learned and refined over time. According to a
recent leadership study, 85 percent of executives
who participated in leadership programs—including
classroom learning, online training, one-on-one
mentoring, and hands-on job training—were able
to improve their leadership effectiveness dramatically in
just three years.

Although on-the-job professional development

opportunities are helpful, advanced degree programs,
such as Northeastern’s Master of Science in Leadership,
enable professionals at any level to lead in any sector
in the future. Moreover, 33 percent of companies report
that they now target advanced degree holders for roles
that used to require four-year degrees, in part due to
the often superior leadership abilities among those
with advanced education

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Developing Leadership Skills: Northeastern
University’s Professional Leadership Lab

Ludden and her colleagues developed a new

framework for leadership education, establishing
a Professional Leadership Lab in response to
these new leadership demands of the 21st
century.

This lab brings together students with diverse

experiences and professional backgrounds to
learn from and mentor each other, while being
facilitated by expert faculty. Ludden’s leadership
lab focuses on the following competencies in
budding leaders:

» Development of self
» Development of others
» Strategic thinking and acting
» Ethical practice and civic-mindedness
» Innovative thinking
» Cross-cultural capabilities and communication
» Communication skills
Benefits of Northeastern’s
MS in Leadership

Through the Leadership Lab and more traditional

coursework, Northeastern’s graduate leadership program
can help you develop and refine the skills required to
compete for today’s most in-demand leadership roles.

By enrolling in the program you will:

» Develop business acumen: Graduate coursework is

designed to sharpen critical thinking and analytical
skills. You’ll be required to craft compelling arguments,
defend them against criticism, and justify your
decisions with data.

You’ll address complex, multi-faceted case studies with

solutions that require a thorough situational analysis
and strategic thinking. In the real world, leaders are
faced with similar challenges that require the ability
to consider the needs of many diverse stakeholders in
their decision making.

» Improve goal-setting capabilities: Achieving an

advanced degree is no easy feat. Completing graduate

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 studies exhibits your ability to set goals and see
them through to execution. Balancing graduate
coursework with your professional and personal life
requires initiative, time management, and superior
organizational ability.

Given the self-directed nature of graduate work,

you’ll learn to set goals, organize, learn, and complete
objectives with little direction—which, according
to global leaders, is the second most important
competency for leaders.

» Become a more effective communicator: In

graduate school, you’ll have the chance to improve
your communication abilities by constructing written
arguments and participating in classroom discussion.
Courses in Northeastern’s program focus on not only
interpersonal communication skills between colleagues,
but also on communicating effectively to subordinates,
upper management, and other external stakeholders.

» Increase your self-awareness: One of the key

components of Northeastern’s Leadership Lab focuses
on developing one’s self as a leader before moving on
to strategic development. Ludden and other esteemed
faculty members help leaders conduct thorough

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 explorations of themselves (through targeted strength
finders and assessments) in order to identify their
strengths and weaknesses.

This allows students to pinpoint opportunities for

individual improvement that they can address before
moving on toward developing their approach to
igniting change, influencing the behavior of others, and
developing others into leaders.

» Gain a global perspective: In the MS in Leadership

program, you’ll meet and work with people from a
variety of cultures and backgrounds. Surrounding
yourself with diverse views and opinions will give you
a broader perspective, and this exposure will give
you the ability to learn from others more efficiently,
improve your inter-cultural communication, increase
your cultural awareness, and enable you to better lead
across countries and cultures.

» Solve real-world problems with industry leaders:

In Northeastern’s MS in Leadership program, you’ll
learn from faculty who are also key players in
industries such as health management, business,
and human resources, who utilize their real-world

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 experience to bolster your understanding of theoretical
methodologies. These individuals teach core industry
competencies while also imparting advice on how to be
a more effective leader in real-world environments.

Through hands-on learning opportunities offered

through Northeastern’s Experiential Network (XN), you’ll
develop problem-solving skills, gain exposure to new
business models and state-of-the-art innovations, and
have the chance to apply leadership methodologies in a
real-world environment.

» Challenge your views: Successful leaders are

comfortable challenging their own views in order to
make the best and most objective decisions. The MS
in Leadership courses are designed to push you out of
your comfort zone, encourage flexibility, and teach you
how to respond favorably and strategically to change.

By learning to step aside from your preconceived

beliefs, consider the perspectives of others, and
challenge your current problem-solving methods,
students in the graduate leadership program learn to
lead more inclusively.

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» Become a teamwork expert: You’ll participate in many
collaborative projects and breakout sessions during
your courses that encourage cooperation to solve
complex problems. These environments help embody
the collective nature of leadership and illustrate the
importance of failing and succeeding together.

These collaborative projects will teach you lasting

lessons about how to build and manage teams, by
noting your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as
team dynamics. You’ll also learn to listen to the views of
others, experience different work ethics, and delegate
effectively. As a leader in the real world, you’ll be able
to utilize these skills to inspire a shared vision and
enable others to act.

» Expand your professional network: No matter what

stage you are at in your career, having a large network
is crucial. In Northeastern’s graduate leadership
program, you’ll build your network by meeting students
from different backgrounds and disciplines, as well as
professors who are well-connected in their industries.
Additionally, you’ll be connected to Northeastern’s

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 255,000 alumni and 3,000+ employer partners
across the globe, from whom you can gain insight and
expertise. From the moment you enroll, you’ll have an
ample network to help you advance your career.

With visionary, ethical, and transformational leadership

in high demand, improving your leadership skills will
give you a competitive advantage. Here’s how a Master
of Science in Leadership helped several Northeastern
alumni develop their skills and advance their careers.

85% of executives who participated

in leadership development programs
significantly improved their leadership
effectiveness and ability to achieve
company goals.
Source: Harvard University 20
The Alumni Perspective:
How an MS in Leadership
Helped Others Make an
Impact

“ Alex Makos, ‘18, HR Coordinator at

Financial Recovery Technologies
What was the most impactful part
of Northeastern’s MS in Leadership
program?
“For me there were many but, if I had to try
to rank them, I would say my top two were
my Experiential Network Capstone Project
and a class I took called “Leadership
Ethics.” Both experiences really pushed my leadership and
intellectual capability, forcing me to use all of the tools and
resources I had gained throughout the program. Those same
tools and resources are used on a weekly, if not daily, basis in
my new role as an HR Coordinator. The relevancy of it all, looking
back on it, is really just surreal.”

How has your advanced leadership degree helped you further

your career and reach your personal or professional goals?
“The MSL gave me the flexibility to focus on a topic that I
love—leadership—and pair it with a concentration—human
resources—that would give me a leg up in the job market and
allow me to change career fields. I moved from a sales role to
human resources and I wouldn’t have discovered my passion for
HR without enrolling in the program.”

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 What would you tell someone considering Northeastern’s MSL
program?
“If someone were considering this program and currently
working full time like I was, I would tell them that they need to
be ready to work and to begin with the end in mind because
they will have many long nights of researching, collecting
citations, and writing papers. They will need to stay motivated
and organized throughout the process so that they can achieve
their desired end result—whether that is a promotion in their
current role, change in career path, or personal and professional
development.

I would also tell them that they’ve come to the right place.
While in their program they will be able to gain the necessary
experience through Experiential Network projects or co-ops that
employers are looking for. Mix all of that together with their
advanced degree and they will become a highly sought after
individual in this hyper-competitive job market.”

“ Matt Hord, ’18, Strategy Consultant,

Enterprise Analytics & Data Science
at Wells Fargo
What was the most impactful part
of Northeastern’s MS in Leadership
program?
“The research-based assignments and
class discussions. I thrive on fruitful
arguments, which I am able to support and
debate with credible research while supplying mitigating facts. In
my current role I manage a very large community, and bringing

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people together is a challenge I enjoy. The class discussions often
mirrored the types of conversations I needed to employ in my role.
The research-based assignments also forced us to think critically and
apply fact-based, credible, sources to support our findings.”

How has your advanced leadership degree helped you further your
career and reach your personal or professional goals?
“I had just started the program when I moved organizations and
industries. I was empowered with the knowledge of the coursework
to help me adapt to my new environment. I felt an internal burn,
or pressure, to be able to compete at a new level. Currently, seven
months after the completion [of my degree], I am due for a promotion.

I’m also in the running for a role back in HR, so I will most likely have
a tough decision to make. I have decision-making models to aid in
my choice, and I have both professional and academic credibility to
support me.

Full transparency, I gained a 30 percent increase in pay by moving

organizations and by obtaining this MS degree. Lastly, I am a non-
traditional student and the only in my family to receive any college
degree. Education is a very important part of my personal brand.”
What would you tell someone considering Northeastern’s MSL
program?
“Apply yourself. Do something different, think outside of the box,
and ask why and why not. Challenge your classmates and professors.
Disruption and innovation are two extremely important factors in
today’s environment. 
I would also suggest crafting a short-term,
and long-term career goal plan, and align that with the appropriate
concentration.

Also, be the pioneer of your class/cohort, post first and post often
within the discussions. Follow the directions and do more than what
is asked, you’ll be noticed and you’ll also notice a difference in your
learning. If you’re asked a question, or if someone replies to you,
return the favor by answering and thanking.

Lastly, don’t take the easy path. Everything you will do in this program
has the ability to help you in the future. I am able to recall specific
examples of coursework and real life experiences where I leveraged
my learning.”

“I gained a 30% increase in pay

by moving organizations and
obtaining my MS [in Leadership]
degree.” —Matt Hord, CPS’18
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Are You Ready to Effect
Change in Your Organization?
To learn more about the Northeastern experience,
including the Master of Science in Leadership
program, visit northeastern.edu/graduate
or connect with our team to receive
personalized advice.

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