As a passionate student of leadership, I have had the good fortune of being able to learn from many leaders over the years. While experience continues to be a trusted teacher, my countless conversations with leaders at all levels have proven to be an invaluable source of knowledge and inspiration. A common thread woven through every conversation is the exploration of how leadership has evolved and what separates great leaders from all of the rest.

To be sure, timeless factors such as integrity, trust, respect, consistency and transparency continue to serve as the foundational building blocks of leadership excellence. Although these factors remain at the core of leadership effectiveness, today's complex work climate coupled with the accelerating pace of global change demand more from us as leaders. Central to this demand by my estimation and by the estimation of many leaders I've spoken with in recent months is the need for a higher level of kindness not just at work but outside of work too. One executive I spoke with recently summed it up quite well when she said, "Today's kindness deficit has resulted in countless people and organizations being emotionally bankrupt. People are hungry for kindness and as leaders we must honor our responsibility as role models".

Global competition, technological advances and the demands of cost-quality-time conscious customers and stakeholders have produced a workplace environment aptly described as "permanent whitewater". Add to this the rapid pace of change and the never ending pursuit of excellence and organizations today face an unparalleled challenge to succeed. While many of these new workplace realities present real obstacles, they also present an unparalleled opportunity for organizations to set themselves apart from the competition.