--- title: "A Skill-Set Revamp for Leaders" id: "61395" type: "post" slug: "a-skill-set-revamp-for-leaders" published_at: "2022-07-18T17:00:57+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:08:07+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/a-skill-set-revamp-for-leaders/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/a-skill-set-revamp-for-leaders.md" excerpt: "The pandemic brought new emphasis to empathy and communication as essential skills for leaders. But before you take that listening tour, a self-assessment is in order." taxonomy_category: - "Operations" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" - "C-suite" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » A Skill-Set Revamp for Leaders Part of the Deep Dive[No Going Back](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/no-going-back-remaking-the-association-workplace/) When asked what skill leaders most need to cultivate these days, workplace consultant Tamala Blalock, CAE, doesn’t hesitate: “self-introspection,” she says. The past two years have so thoroughly disrupted how people work, where they work, and how they’re treated in the workplace that it’s more crucial than ever that leaders recognize their blind spots, says Blalock, principal at Blalock Consulting and VP, cooperative relations, at the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International. You can’t address disruption if you’ve trained yourself not to see it. “The conventional wisdom is that we’re trying to be as objective as possible and inclusive as possible,” she said. “But the reality is that we’re incredibly subjective people all the time. We need to be aware of our preferences and biases.” Pamela J. Green, president and CEO of Pamela J. Green Solutions, says that kind of introspection hasn’t really taken hold, however. Case in point: the urge to return to “normal.” Leaders are “still trying to solve current problems or challenges with outdated ways of seeing the work and doing the work,” she said. “They are living off past successes, thinking it will just blow over.” But the workforce churn of the past two-plus years is evidence that conventional leadership tactics may not be working. In 2021 and the first half of 2022, people quit their jobs in record numbers, and a [March 2022 survey from Willis Towers Watson (opens in a new tab)](https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/22/great-resignation-continues-as-44percent-of-workers-seek-a-new-job.html) found that more than 40 percent of the U.S. workforce was looking for a new job. While pay is a key consideration for many job seekers, the survey also found that a substantial proportion of workers were thinking about factors beyond compensation when considering their employment options, including job security, flexible work arrangements, and an organizational culture in which workers feel appreciated. ### Look Inward, Then Outward In light of that, Blalock says, CEOs and other senior leaders need to make an effort to be better tuned in to employee concerns. She suggests that leaders conduct a self-assessment, such as DISC, to better grasp their leadership approaches and blind spots. That’s the first step to developing a management approach that creates a positive environment for staff. “In leadership, it’s our responsibility to empower our team rather than make them conform to what we’re most comfortable with,” she said. [Mark Athitakis](https://associationsnow.com/author/mark-athitakis/) Mark Athitakis, a contributing editor for Associations Now, has written on nonprofits, the arts, and leadership for a variety of publications. He is a coauthor of The Dumbest Moments in Business History and hopes you never qualify for the sequel. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/mark-athitakis/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) [#C-suite](https://associationsnow.com/tag/c-suite/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [A Workplace Focused on Results](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/a-workplace-focused-on-results/) - [Building the Future With Maximum Flexibility](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/building-the-future-with-maximum-flexibility/) - [New Rules to Support New Work Options](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/new-rules-to-support-new-work-options/) - [How to Future-Proof Your Association](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/how-to-future-proof-your-association-2/) - [Finding Remedies for Employee Burnout](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/finding-remedies-for-employee-burnout/) - [Seven Steps to Employee Well-Being](https://associationsnow.com/2022/07/18/seven-steps-to-employee-well-being/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/no-going-back-remaking-the-association-workplace/) ## You Might Like - [VideoSmarter Board Management for Associations: An OnBoard ShowcaseJuly 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/24/smarter-board-management-for-associations-an-onboard-showcase/) - [VideoRisky Business: What Types of Insurance Do Associations Really Need?June 17, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/17/risky-business-what-types-of-insurance-do-associations-really-need/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Industry Partner Edition-Helping Associations Thrive in the Age of AIJuly 16, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/16/associations-now-presents-industry-partner-edition-helping-associations-thrive-in-the-age-of-ai/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2022%2F07%2F18%2Fa-skill-set-revamp-for-leaders%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !