Effective leaders must inspire change but must first be educated on how to achieve this. Torres identified three key elements for strong leadership: 1) Maintaining a diverse network to improve problem-solving through different perspectives. 2) Being ready for change by anticipating roadblocks and improving strategies. 3) Leaving the past behind by recognizing mistakes to learn from them but not dwelling on the past or sticking to outdated methods.

1. H O W T O B E A N E F F E C T I V E L E A D E R
B Y G E O F F R E Y B Y R U C H

2. Great leaders have always
been and will forever be an
integral part of society’s
progress.

3. Our destiny lies in their hands.

4. However, their formation as strong leaders lies in
our hands.

5. Effective leaders must inspire and create change, but in order to
do that they must first be educated on how to achieve such heavy
tasks.

6. According to BCG’s leadership expert Roselinde
Torres, today’s institutions and individuals who
have the resources to help promote and
cultivate great leaders are failing to do so.

7. During her TED talk, Torres spoke
about a study she conducted to
measure the effective use of
leadership development programs
in different companies.
Out of the 4000 companies she
surveyed, “58% reported
significant talent gaps for critical
leadership goals.”
Despite all the training and
resources made available to
employees, more than half of the
companies in the study failed to
prepare great leaders.

8. Torres analyzed her
results and concluded that
there was an alarming
increase in leadership
development programs
that were in fact failing.

9. She observed how cultural backdrops, geographical locations, and
current events influenced all types of leaders and really shaped the
courses of action.

10. Torres was able to point
out three key elements
that will undoubtedly
shape a better-
equipped, stronger, and
more capable leader.

11. 1 . M A I N TA I N I N G A D I V E R S E N E T W O R K
G R E AT L E A D E R S A R E
N O T B O R N K N O W I N G
E V E RY T H I N G . T H E Y
R E C O G N I Z E T H AT
D I V E R S I T Y I S A
P O W E R F U L T O O L .
C O L L A B O R AT I N G W I T H A
G R O U P O F P E O P L E W H O
C O M E F R O M D I F F E R E N T
B A C K G R O U N D S , W H O
C A N C O N T R I B U T E
S O M E T H I N G D I F F E R E N T
F R O M W H AT Y O U A R E
A L R E A D Y
C O N T R I B U T I N G W I L L
I N E V I TA B LY I N C R E A S E
E F F E C T I V E N E S S I N
P R O B L E M S O LV I N G .

12. 2 . B E R E A D Y F O R C H A N G E
E F F E C T I V E L E A D E R S N E V E R
S E T T L E .
T H E Y A C K N O W L E D G E T H E FA C T
T H AT T I M E PA S S E S A N D T H I N G S
C H A N G E .
A S T R O N G L E A D E R S H O U L D
A LWAY S B E O N T H E L O O K O U T
F O R A N Y P O T E N T I A L R O A D
B U M P S A L O N G T H E WAY.
A N T I C I PAT I N G C H A N G E W I L L
L E A D T O B E T T E R S T R AT E G I Z I N G
A N D D E C I S I O N - M A K I N G .

13. 3 . L E AV E T H E
PA S T I N T H E PA S T
It’s always important to recognize
your mistakes and thus, learn from
them, but strong leaders know that
there is no point in dwelling in the
past.
Sticking to old ways of doing
business will eventually hinder
any growth.
The key is to target old and
ineffective methods you may
be overusing, strategize how
you can improve in those
areas, and ultimately move
forward and continue to grow.