The 90th Percentile: An Unconventional Leadership Podcast

Episode 161: Then and Now—How the Pandemic Boosted Leadership Effectiveness

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Apr 23, 2025

Joe Folkman, a renowned psychometrician from Zenger Folkman, reveals surprising data on leadership during the pandemic. Contrary to expectations, leadership effectiveness soared globally, with significant boosts in competencies like learning agility. Leaders demonstrated enhanced adaptability and communication, earning higher levels of trust through transparent decision-making. Joe discusses how this crisis transformed leadership styles, making leaders more responsive to their teams’ needs and better equipped for future challenges.

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INSIGHT

Leadership Effectiveness Improved

Leadership effectiveness improved during and after the pandemic, contrary to widespread expectations.
Organizations that invested in leaders and employees saw measurable gains that persisted beyond the crisis.

INSIGHT

Global Leadership Gains

Leadership effectiveness improved across all global regions, not limited to any specific area.
This global consistency was surprising and highlights a broad leadership transformation.

INSIGHT

Leadership Skills Advanced Broadly

All 19 leadership competencies improved post-pandemic, especially learning agility.
Both soft skills like communication and hard skills like problem solving saw significant gains.

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Details

When the pandemic hit, many expected a decline in leadership effectiveness due to burnout, isolation, and crisis fatigue. However, surprising research from Zenger Folkman revealed just the opposite: leaders didn’t deteriorate under pressure—they improved. In this insightful episode, Joe Folkman shares compelling data showing how the challenges of COVID-19 transformed leaders worldwide, enhancing their agility, communication, trust-building skills, and overall effectiveness. Discover how leaders emerged from the crisis stronger, more adaptive, and better equipped to navigate ongoing disruption.

Key Learnings

Leadership Effectiveness Improved Globally
Contrary to expectations, leadership effectiveness significantly increased worldwide during and after the pandemic. This was not limited to specific regions—improvements were consistent across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Learning Agility Saw the Greatest Boost
The competency showing the most dramatic improvement was Learning Agility—the ability to seek feedback and adapt to new situations quickly. Leaders had to rapidly develop new skills, such as effective virtual communication and remote team management.
Trust Levels Increased Significantly
Leaders earned higher levels of trust by making tough decisions transparently and consistently demonstrating integrity during challenging times. The pandemic underscored the importance of authentic and honest communication in building trust.
Feedback and Continual Improvement Became Essential
Leaders significantly improved their openness to asking for and acting on feedback. This proactive approach to continuous improvement allowed leaders to quickly test and refine strategies in response to rapidly changing conditions.
Enhanced Balance Between Employee Needs and Company Goals
Leaders became more attuned to employees’ concerns and needs, promoting stronger collaboration and cooperation despite remote work. Leaders who balanced organizational objectives with empathy and clear communication were notably more effective.

Connect with Joe Folkman

Webinar

Zenger Folkman hosts an exclusive live webinar every month, where you can meet Jack Zenger and Joe Folkman and talk about their latest leadership development research. Find out more information and register here.

Research

How the Pandemic Permanently Elevated Management Effectiveness– Article by Joe Folkman

The post Episode 161: Then and Now—How the Pandemic Boosted Leadership Effectiveness first appeared on ZENGER FOLKMAN.