A wide variety of research out there suggests that leadership is being redefined. What’s out: glamour, glitz and heroes. What’s in: low-key collaboration, transparency and action. Why? The next generation of leaders grew up in groups. This is a natural evolution. And the challenges facing them are beyond the capacity of individual leadership. Studies such as a 2007 survey of 500 plus global leaders by the Center of Creative Leadership have documented what has been simmering beneath the surface for a while.

You better believe that these changes will require vast shifts in skill-building. These leaders must go beyond being “people oriented and balance the IQ needed to translate complex issue and the EQ needed to implement complex tasks with a wide variety of players.” Don’t let the bad economic news fool you. This will be tackled. Watch for more on-the-job skill-building, more “serious play” via games and more facilitative formats.

Couple these vast shifts with predictions that management, scientific and technical consulting will grow by 60.5% by 2014….and you get a heap of opportunities for those experts who take advantage of the trends.  The key: act now….