7 Top Leadership Tips for 2025
As the new year unfolds, leaders must navigate complexity with clarity, inspire their teams, and foster environments that encourage growth. To offer guidance, we consulted our expert leadership and executive coaches for the top habits every leader should cultivate in 2025. These insights highlight the importance of mindfulness, connection, and intentionality in leadership practices.
This blog explores seven essential leadership tips for 2025, including:
Prioritize Rest and Renewal
Cultivate Presence and Mindfulness
Embrace the “And”
Foster Authentic Connections
Balance Action with Reflection
Make Time for Strategic Thinking
Lead with Authenticity
So, what are the top leadership tips for 2025?
1. Prioritize Rest and Renewal
In a fast-paced world, rest is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Leaders often push through without pausing, but intentional rest and renewal are crucial for clarity, creativity, and resilience. Henley Leadership Group’s CEO, Carol Zizzo, emphasized, “Taking breaks is different than vacations, travel, adventures or sabbaticals. Create a daily practice of just stopping during the day to pause. All my best decisions have come while I was doing nothing, and all the big ones were made after taking a break from all the discussions, chatter, and angst to listen for the deeper sensibilities and my own truth in the matter.”
Our Thought Leadership Coordinator, Fran Nunes, added another dimension by highlighting how rest fosters deeper connections and creativity: “Rest isn’t just about recharging; it’s about enjoying life, deepening connections, and fostering creativity.” Together, their insights underscore the value of prioritizing rest as an integral part of effective leadership.
And, truly, leaders cannot lead effectively without tending to their well-being. Henley Leadership Leadership Coach George Brewster emphasized, “Put the oxygen mask on yourself first so that you can lead and support others.” Renewal might mean exercising, meditating, journaling, or simply saying no to overcommitment. By prioritizing self-care, leaders model balance and resilience, fostering a healthier workplace culture.
Practical ways to prioritize rest include:
Taking short, mindful breaks throughout the day.
Ensuring weekends and vacations are for genuine downtime, free from work-related tasks—setting clear boundaries to protect personal time and energy.
Creating space to process emotions and recharge mentally and physically.
Regularly evaluating what activities or habits truly nourish you.
Read more: "Taking A Break Isn’t Just Beneficial; It’s Crucial For Leaders"
2. Cultivate Presence and Mindfulness
Being fully present allows leaders to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. Presence fosters connection, creativity, and the ability to notice opportunities that might otherwise go unseen. Executive Leadership Coach Penny Koch-Patterson shared how practicing presence transformed her experience of a recent holiday break: “I just spent 10 days in the quiet of my little cabin, snow quietly falling outside, tending to the fire to perfect the heat—not too hot, not too cold, just right. Tending the fire takes presence, paying attention to what's happening all around. How cold is it outside, and what does that mean for what's needed in the fire? What's the wind doing, and how will that affect the draft of my wood-burning stove? This awareness requires presence, which was outside my grasp during the busy days and weeks leading up to the holidays.” Like Penny, leaders can create stronger connections and make better decisions by minimizing distractions and focusing on what’s happening in the current moment.
Practical ways to cultivate presence include:
Setting aside time for a daily or weekly mindfulness practice.
Minimizing distractions during important conversations.
Stepping back to observe and appreciate the moment at hand.
Read More: "The Power Of Curiosity And Open-Mindedness In Leadership Today"
4. Embrace the “And”
Courtney Caldwell, HLG’s Director of Program Delivery, encourages leaders to embrace the “and.” This perspective invites leaders to hold space for complexity and recognize that life often requires us to balance opposing truths. “We live in a time of infinite resources and, simultaneously, deep inequities where people struggle to buy groceries. And we have more diversity in our workplaces than ever - including five generations of ideas and experiences to solve those problems. While we're at a time of huge pushback about honoring diversity in the workplace, it's that very diversity that will allow us to co-create better companies and a better world."
Embracing the “and” enables leaders to approach situations with empathy and creativity, navigating ambiguity while honoring both short-term needs and long-term visions. This mindset fosters inclusion, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of the complexities of daily life.
Practical ways to embrace the “and” include:
Reflecting on how seemingly opposing priorities can coexist and complement each other.
Finding ways to integrate diverse perspectives into decision-making processes.
Staying open to evolving goals and adapting plans as needed.
Read More: "Challenging Certainty: Embracing Self-Reflection for Leadership Growth"
5. Foster Authentic Connections
At the heart of effective leadership is authentic connection. Leaders who prioritize meaningful relationships build trust, foster collaboration, and inspire loyalty. Sam Crawley illustrated the impact of connection with a story about her mentor: “Connection brings empathy, integrity, and clarity to leadership.” Whether through one-on-one conversations or team engagements, creating space for genuine dialogue strengthens bonds and fosters a shared sense of purpose.
Practical ways to foster authentic connections include:
Scheduling regular one-on-one check-ins to understand team members’ needs and goals.
Practicing active listening during conversations to show genuine interest.
Creating opportunities for informal interactions to strengthen team cohesion.
Read More: "One Key To Motivating & Inspiring Your Team: Appreciation"
6. Balance Action with Reflection
Seasoned Leadership Coach Alan Cahn’s insight draws on Aristotle’s three types of action—poiesis (results-driven actions), theoria (truth-seeking actions), and praxis (actions for their own sake). He noted, “Leaders impact others not only through what they do but by how they are being. Taking time to reflect helps align actions with purpose.” By balancing these modes of action, leaders can align their intentions with their impact and ensure purposeful leadership.
Practical ways to balance action with reflection include:
Setting aside time each week to evaluate decisions and their long-term implications.
Journaling about daily actions and their alignment with core values.
Seeking feedback from trusted peers or mentors to refine your approach.
Read More: "How To Lead Effectively Into An Ever-Changing Future"
7. Make Time for Strategic Thinking
In the rush of daily tasks, leaders often overlook the importance of setting aside time for deep, intentional thought. Coach and Facilitator Melanie Cossette shared, “This practice infuses joy, meaning, and purpose into our lives.” Regularly scheduled time for strategic thinking allows leaders to align actions with purpose, identify solutions, and inspire innovation.
Practical ways to make time for strategic thinking include:
Blocking 30 minutes on your calendar weekly to reflect on long-term goals and priorities.
Using quiet time to brainstorm solutions without immediate pressure to act.
Revisiting your organization’s mission to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
8. Lead with Authenticity
Being your authentic self inspires trust and creates a positive ripple effect. Tenured Henley Executive Coach Derek Olsen reflected, “The world needs the gift of you being yourself. What a lifelong and magnificent adventure to simply be yourself—at work, at home, alone with yourself, with friends, with family, with colleagues.” Authentic leaders align their actions with values, fostering environments where others feel empowered to do the same. By embracing authenticity, leaders inspire confidence and create meaningful connections.
Practical ways to lead with authenticity include:
Affirming one value each week that will guide your decisions and interactions.
Sharing personal stories or challenges to create a sense of relatability.
Encouraging team members to bring their full selves to work by modeling vulnerability.
Final Thought
The habits outlined here offer a roadmap for leading with intention, compassion, and clarity in 2025. By integrating a few or all of these practices into your leadership approach, you can create environments that foster innovation, connection, and resilience.
Ready to elevate your leadership in 2025? Explore our leadership development programs.
