Many organizations invest significant resources in preparing executives for the strategic, operational and governance demands of senior leadership. Often overlooked amid the flurry of activity surrounding the onboarding of a new executive is one of the most consequential shifts new C-suite leaders face: the collapse of their existing peer network. 

While losing friends at work may seem like a secondary issue, the collapse of one’s peer network and the need to rebuild or rethink it are by no means minor concerns. By one estimate, over half of executives experience significant loneliness, and as Hakan Ozcelik and Sigal G. Barsade found in their 2018 study, loneliness at work isn’t just a matter of feelings; it is also correlated with lower performance.

Few leadership challenges are more daunting than regaining your footing after your credibility has been called into question. Whether the result of a misjudgment or an organizational setback, rebuilding trust requires intentional effort, humility, vulnerability and sustained commitment.

Doing what is right is essential. But doing it in a way that is also strategic and politically astute is how you protect your ability to lead and create lasting impact. Ethical leadership isn’t just about integrity—it’s about timing, influence and sustainability.

Should incoming CEOs simply retain the executive teams they inherit, or should they bring in new leaders who aren’t attached to past practices and outcomes and may be much better equipped to execute on current priorities?

In today's business landscape, we can be assured of only one thing: We are entering an uncertain time. Change is in the air, but the form it takes and its impact on work is yet to be seen. Several leadership capabilities will be critical for navigating this future, and based on Zenger and Folkman's research, they're all areas where women excel.

In today's business environment, leaders face unprecedented challenges supporting their teams. From economic uncertainty to political upheaval, it is becoming increasingly difficult for leaders, even in the U.S., to ignore the impact of trauma in the workplace.

Doing what is right is essential. But doing it in a way that is also strategic and politically astute is how you protect your ability to lead and create lasting impact. Ethical leadership isn’t just about integrity—it’s about timing, influence and sustainability.

Few leadership challenges are more daunting than regaining your footing after your credibility has been called into question. Whether the result of a misjudgment or an organizational setback, rebuilding trust requires intentional effort, humility, vulnerability and sustained commitment.