en

Services

We understand that no two organisations are the same. Find out more about how we've customised our talent solutions to help clients across South East Asia meet their needs.

Read more
Candidates

Together, we’ll map out career-defining, life-changing pathways to achieve your career ambitions. Browse our range of services, advice, and resources.

Learn more
Services

We understand that no two organisations are the same. Find out more about how we've customised our talent solutions to help clients across South East Asia meet their needs.

Read more
About Robert Walters Vietnam

Since our establishment in 2011, our belief remains the same: Building strong relationships with people is vital in a successful partnership.

Learn more

Work for us

Our people are the difference. Hear stories from our people to learn more about a career at Robert Walters Vietnam.

Learn more

Key traits of a 21st century leader

Global mega-trends such as globalisation and digitisation have raised the speed, scale and interconnectedness in which our world operates. Organisations today require a new breed of leaders to tackle these complexities. We take a look at four key traits a 21st century leader should ideally possess. 

Lead by inspiration, not rank

"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." - Ronald Reagan

Inspirational leaders of today lead not by the virtue of their position but by inspiring their employees to challenge themselves for a greater cause – a vision. In the book, “Built To Last”, authors Jim Collins and Jerry Porras discovered that visionary companies paid particular attention to cultivating excellent cultures and adhering to an ideology that transcends the pursuit of profits. As a 21st century leader, you should strive to align the aspirations of your employees to the vision of your company. Start doing so by listening to employees’ aspirations and cultivating an authentic work culture at your company.

Communicate

"The art of communication is the language of leadership." - James Humes

As a leader, you may have an extraordinary vision for the employees you lead. However, if you are unable to articulate this vision effectively, you will not be able to inspire the people who work for you. Effective communication these days does not only refer to speaking and writing clearly. It is also about learning how to integrate new forms of communication such as social media and online collaboration tools into the organisation’s DNA.

Embrace the VUCA environment

No matter how successful you may become, always remember that your success could not have been achieved alone.

 

“We are moving from a world of problems, which demand speed, analysis, and elimination of uncertainty to solve, to a world of dilemmas, which demand patience, sense-making, and an engagement of uncertainty.” - Denise Caron

Leaders today are expected to thrive in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. Stakeholder relationships and processes within and around organisations have become increasingly dynamic and unpredictable. In order to thrive in the VUCA world, be consistently aware of the changing trends around you and plan your strategies early to remain flexible and agile. Do not be afraid to take intelligent and calculated risks. Cultivate a collaborative work environment with multi-disciplinary teams to tackle issues that may require creativity and innovation. 

Stay grounded

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. “ - Lao Tzu

As you embrace the VUCA situations around you, do not lose touch of what matters most – relationships. No matter how successful you may become, always remember that your success could not have been achieved alone. Build, maintain and deepen your relationships with your employees. Nurture the basic values of trust, compassion and humility in all your interactions with your co-workers.

Share this article

Useful links

Explore new opportunities
Salary Survey
Career Advice
Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialist recruitment consultants

Related content

View All
6 tips to future-proof your employability

In a challenging economic landscape, organisations are compelled to take difficult measures to furlough staff or issue redundancies. Amidst increasing job insecurity or job losses across a displaced, global workforce, it’s a time where many of us are battling career uncertainty. But where there’s ti

Read More
Embracing change in the workplace

Embracing change in the workplace has become a necessary skill for workers in 2022 and beyond. As the world acclimatises to a post-Covid-19 normal, companies and professionals have been, in one sense, forced into the future of work. It’s a future where work is often location agnostic, and where the

Read More
Six signs it could be time to change jobs

Your interests and goals naturally change over time, but how do you know if you’re ready to think about a change of job? Here are a few indicators that it might be time for you to make your move. So you’ve been in your job a good while, and you’ve noticed motivation is dwindling. Maybe you don’t fee

Read More

I'm Robert Walters Are you?

Come join our global team of creative thinkers, problem solvers and game changers. We offer accelerated career progression, a dynamic culture and expert training.