logo
Companies need leaders. Here's how to stand out

Companies need leaders. Here's how to stand out

Fast Companya day ago
Companies are struggling with the rise of AI, high levels of employee burnout, and managing hybrid teams. Now, there's a new challenge: no one wants to be a leader.
According to DDI's 2025 HR Insights report, based on a survey of 2,185 HR professionals and 10,796 leaders, 75% of companies prioritize promoting employees to leadership roles from within. However, less than 20% of Chief Human Resource Officers say they actually have employees who are ready to fill critical leadership roles. On average, there are only enough internal candidates to fill less than half (49%) of open leadership positions.
Going forward, it looks like the leadership vacuum is likely to get worse. According to the report, Gen Z is 1.4 times more likely than other generations to reject a leadership role. At the same time, Gen Z is also 2.8 times more likely to quit a job because of subpar leadership.
However, as Fast Company contributor Tracey Brower points out, the dearth of qualified candidates creates an opportunity for anyone who wants to be a leader.
What can companies do to create more leaders?
Historically, leadership roles have been desirable but as navigating the business landscape becomes more complicated, leadership roles have become less attractive. 'Leadership is becoming a tougher job every day,' said Tacy M. Byham, Ph.D., CEO of DDI, in a press release. 'While organizations can't control the deluge of external challenges they face this year, strategic HR executives can build resilience by using trusted people analytics to forecast needs, build their bench, and reinvigorate the next generation of leaders.'
Essentially, companies need to create a strong leadership pipeline. Promotions are six times more likely when employees receive adequate coaching from managers. Likewise, companies should always be thinking about their strongest employees' potential, even before leadership positions become available.
Tara Rasmussen, a hiring manager for Hapi, a hospitality tech company, points out that employee expectations have evolved. While she says older professionals cling to habits like 'micromanagement' and 'habits of overworking,' young employees are pushing back—even those who want to be leaders are setting firm boundaries around their personal time. 'Elder millennials and Gen Z employees are more inclined to say 'No thanks' to giving up personal time even with decent salary increases,' she explains. In the past while future leaders stood out by working long hours, today selection committees need to understand that even leaders want time off.
What can employees looking for leadership roles do to stand out?
Cultivate soft skills
Strong leadership is built on a solid foundation of soft skills. Rasmussen, notes that when it comes to new leadership, 'soft skills,' like communication and interpersonal skills, are more important than ever before. She notes that soft skills are the ability to navigate nuance while communicating with others and doing work. It's not a one way lane,' Rasmussen explains. 'Leaders in the current climate cannot expect to step into a role and communicate one way to all team members and be successful because everyone is different.'
Humility
Given the current environment where leaders face all kinds of challenges from technological changes to a turbulent economy, Rasmussen also points out 'humility' is a key attribute modern leaders must have. 'The ability to say, 'I don't know but I'll find out,' is absolutely critical,' she explains. 'Leaders we look for now are not just 'bosses' that micromanage and order employees around. They must be able to be, well, human. Admit when wrong and grow alongside their teams.'
Embracing AI and adaptability
Jeffrey Pole, CEO and cofounder of Warden AI, tells Fast Company that, in 2025, leaders have to be innovative, adaptable, and knowledgeable about how to work alongside AI.
'There is much fear in the workforce today, with economic uncertainty, technology disruption, and a constant need for new skills and new career paths,' Pole explains. 'The best leaders of this generation will be the ones who can adapt to change, embrace new opportunities, and motivate people to explore and experiment with the technologies and markets that are opening up.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

3 Worst Money Habits of Millennials — And What To Do Instead
3 Worst Money Habits of Millennials — And What To Do Instead

Yahoo

time8 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

3 Worst Money Habits of Millennials — And What To Do Instead

Let's be real — money can feel like a never-ending puzzle, especially for millennials juggling student loans, rent and that constant urge to treat themselves. Some money habits sneak up on us without us even realizing it, and before you know it, you're stuck in a cycle that's tough to break. But don't worry, you're not alone. And the good news is, there are smarter, easier ways to take control of your cash. Learn More: Find Out: 'Millennials face unique money struggles, but some of their worst financial habits are based on well-meaning but misplaced moves,' said Kevin Huffman, owner of Kriminil Trading. Here are some of the worst money habits millennials tend to fall into, and more importantly, what you can do instead to build a healthier financial future. According to Huffman, one of the big traps for millennials is the masquerade of lifestyle inflation as 'self-care.' While it might feel self-affirming to spend $200 on a yoga retreat or daily $7 matcha lattes, but when you haven't budgeted for it, it can be chipping away at your savings quietly. Instead, Huffman recommended budgeting for self-care that's actually going to reduce future stress such as a 401(k) match, or a much-needed emergency fund. For You: Jason Pack, chief revenue officer at Freedom Debt Relief, said millennials have really normalized paying a premium for convenience compared to generations before them, often with the easy swipe of a credit card or Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service. 'Some people have a constant stream of Uber Eats and impulse buys from Amazon with same-day shipping, using services like Afterpay to finance every purchase,' Pack remarked. He explained that these services cost more, which isn't always bad. Sometimes, convenience is worth the premium, so long as your other financial priorities are taken care of. 'But too many people have convenience spending so engrained in their daily habits, they're unaware of the full impact on their finances,' Pack said. When you sit down and add up all those purchases over a month, he said most people are shocked at the numbers. Before worrying about building a restrictive budget, go through your last 60 days of credit card and bank statements. Tally up the delivery fees, the tips, the service charges, and the BNPL payments. From there, create a conscious spending plan. Automate your savings, your retirement contributions and your bill payments first. Then, decide on a specific, reasonable amount for a monthly convenience fund. 'That's your guilt-free money to spend however you like, because you know all your important financial goals have already been taken care of.' 'Millennials carry a heavy psychological weight from their student loans and are determined to pay them off as fast as possible,' said Pack. According to CNBC, millennials are the generation with the fastest growing debt load. While it's responsible to pay down debt, you should do the math before you throw every spare dollar there. If you have a government student loan with a 4% interest rate, Pack said it might make sense to make minimum payments as you build a proper emergency fund or invest for your future. The trick is to prioritize all your financial priorities and fund them in a balanced way rather than taking an all-or-nothing approach. More From GOBankingRates Mark Cuban Warns of 'Red Rural Recession' -- 4 States That Could Get Hit Hard 4 Housing Markets That Have Plummeted in Value Over the Past 5 Years How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Your State? This article originally appeared on 3 Worst Money Habits of Millennials — And What To Do Instead

Billionaire Reid Hoffman Bets $12M On This AI Brain Scanner To Rival Neuralink — Without Surgery Or Drugs
Billionaire Reid Hoffman Bets $12M On This AI Brain Scanner To Rival Neuralink — Without Surgery Or Drugs

Yahoo

time9 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Billionaire Reid Hoffman Bets $12M On This AI Brain Scanner To Rival Neuralink — Without Surgery Or Drugs

Sanmai Technologies, a stealthy neurotechnology startup, has raised $12 million in a Series A round led by LinkedIn co‑founder Reid Hoffman, who will also join its board of directors, Bloomberg reports. Sanmai is developing a non‑invasive, AI‑guided focused ultrasound headset to treat mental health disorders and improve cognitive function. The device is designed to sell for under $500, making clinic‑grade brain stimulation accessible at home. According to Bloomberg, this funding aligns with growing interest from billionaire investors in cutting‑edge brain science, such as Coinbase co‑founder Fred Ehrsam's Nudge and Elon Musk's Neuralink. Don't Miss: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. GoSun's Breakthrough Rooftop EV Charger Already Has 2,000+ Units Reserved — Sanmai's headset uses low-intensity transcranial-focused ultrasound to target specific brain regions associated with conditions such as anxiety, depression, pain, epilepsy, and tremors, Bloomberg says. According to a LinkedIn post by neurotechnology research scientist and first employee at Sanmai Sharena Rice, an integrated AI companion guides treatment and helps determine which protocols are most effective, adapting the stimulation to each user's skull structure and brain activity. The system compensates for skull variations and dynamically adjusts ultrasound parameters to maximize efficacy and safety. Rice confirmed in the LinkedIn post that combining AI with focused ultrasound enables precise deep‑brain stimulation without surgery. Sanmai has developed an early clinical prototype of its device for generalized anxiety disorder. Bloomberg says that the company is also in discussions with the Food and Drug Administration as it prepares for formal clinical trials and regulatory review. Sanmai aims to validate its technology in clinical settings before expanding toward broader consumer availability. "I thought it was very cool that it gives you a new instrument for dealing with a whole wide variety of brain things which are otherwise very difficult to deal with," Hoffman told Bloomberg. "Your toolset for dealing with things that are going wrong in the brain is very limited." Trending: Named a TIME Best Invention and Backed by 5,000+ Users, Kara's Air-to-Water Pod Cuts Plastic and Costs — Sanmai's low-intensity focused ultrasound system is designed to deliver energy through the skull, reaching precise areas of brain tissue without breaking the skin. According to Bloomberg, the technology, which stimulates neural activity by directing sound waves to specific targets, reflects more than ten years of academic research now transitioning into regulated clinical testing. Sanmai founder Jay Sanguinetti began exploring brain stimulation as a graduate student, observing its effects on Parkinson's patients during invasive procedures. That experience laid the foundation for his pursuit of a safer, scalable alternative. "I saw every patient's life changed," he told Bloomberg. "But I got kind of bit by the bug of like, 'How do you do this but non-invasively and at scale?'" The company's eight-person team, operating largely in stealth until now, is preparing for broader trials after initial testing began at a Sunnyvale, California clinic for patients with generalized anxiety disorder. While Sanmai's goal is to create a home-use device priced below $500, Bloomberg says that the path forward requires individualized calibration, including magnetic resonance imaging scans and real-time adjustments to ultrasound dosage, before moving beyond clinical settings. "The way to do this safely and at scale is to first go through the clinics," Sanguinetti told Bloomberg. "Then leverage that data to go out to the consumer."Hoffman's investment in Sanmai comes at a time when private funding is playing an increasingly critical role in neuroscience innovation. With the U.S. government reducing its support for biomedical research, wealthy individuals like Hoffman are stepping in to advance technologies aimed at treating mental health disorders and neurological conditions, Bloomberg reports. At a recent neuromodulation conference near Washington, dozens of scientists and clinicians voiced concern over federal funding cuts, including proposed reductions to the National Institutes of Health and the departure of more than 143 staffers from its neurological division. In this tightening environment, Bloomberg says that investors like Hoffman, who previously backed OpenAI, are becoming central to the development of next-generation brain technologies. "Non-invasive is a much less risky approach for a significant benefit," Hoffman told Bloomberg. "The risk and difficulties in invasive strike me as very difficult to navigate and will take years, decades maybe." Read Next: Here's what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Billionaire Reid Hoffman Bets $12M On This AI Brain Scanner To Rival Neuralink — Without Surgery Or Drugs originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

The AI Chatbots We Use Most, and How We Use Them
The AI Chatbots We Use Most, and How We Use Them

CNET

time12 minutes ago

  • CNET

The AI Chatbots We Use Most, and How We Use Them

If you have a particular artificial intelligence tool that you tend to try first every time you're in need of an AI assist, you're not alone. According to a new survey, 91% of people who use AI have a favorite chatbot they try first, whether it's ChatGPT, Gemini, Alexa or something else. A Menlo Ventures survey of 5,000 adults found that this "default tool dynamic" means most people using AI have chosen a general AI tool they'll try first for every job, even if it's not necessarily the best tool for the job. In the report, ChatGPT is the AI assistant that tops default tools, with 28% of respondents choosing it first. It's followed by Google's Gemini at 23%, Meta AI and Amazon's Alexa, both at 18% and Apple's Siri at 16%. Other tools including Claude, Grok and Perplexity collectively make up another 33%. Some of the most common ways people are using these AI tools include composing emails and other writing support, researching topics of interest and managing to-do lists, according to Menlo Ventures. Some of that, Menlo Ventures says, is "first-mover advantage," with tools like ChatGPT having built up a following by being the first to offer some chatbot and image-generation features. But, the company warns, "that position is not guaranteed," with challengers moving fast. "The consumer market for [large language models] is still nascent and far from saturated," the report says, "leaving ample room for product innovation to shift market share over time." Overall, 61% of Americans have used AI in the last six months and nearly 1 in 5, 19%, rely on it daily, the report says.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store