What It Takes to Be a Great Leader: Lessons from Roselinde Torres’

Leadership today is no longer defined by hierarchy, authority, or years of experience alone. In a rapidly changing world driven by technology, globalization, and constant disruption, leadership requires adaptability, vision, and courage. Roselinde Torres, a leadership expert who spent decades studying effective leaders worldwide, challenges traditional leadership thinking and highlights what truly differentiates great leaders from average ones.

Her core message is simple but powerful: leadership success in the 21st century depends on how prepared you are for the future, not how successful you were in the past.

Leadership Is About Preparing for What’s Next

Modern leaders must anticipate change rather than react to it. Torres emphasizes that great leaders actively seek new perspectives, experiences, and knowledge to understand emerging trends. They pay attention to who they interact with, what they read, and how they interpret shifts in their environment.

Instead of focusing only on current operational challenges, forward-thinking leaders constantly scan the horizon for potential disruptions and opportunities. This proactive mindset helps organizations remain resilient and competitive.

Great leaders, as Torres suggests, “see around corners,” shaping the future rather than simply responding to events.

The Power of Diverse Networks

Another defining trait of effective leadership is building a diverse professional and personal network. Leaders who engage only with like-minded individuals risk stagnation and blind spots.

Diversity in networks means exposure to different viewpoints, cultures, expertise, and experiences. This diversity helps leaders identify patterns, generate innovative solutions, and make better decisions. It also fosters trust and collaboration across teams and industries.

In essence, leadership growth happens when leaders step outside familiar circles and embrace perspectives that challenge their assumptions.

Courage to Leave the Past Behind

One of the toughest aspects of leadership is letting go of what once worked. Success can create comfort zones, and comfort zones often prevent growth. Torres highlights that great leaders are willing to abandon outdated practices, even if those practices previously brought success.

This requires emotional resilience and the willingness to face criticism or uncertainty. Leaders who embrace change instead of resisting it position themselves — and their organizations — for long-term success.

Calculated risk-taking, experimentation, and openness to change are not optional anymore; they are leadership essentials.

Three Questions Every Leader Should Ask

According to Torres’ research, future-ready leaders regularly reflect on three crucial questions:

Where are you looking to anticipate change?
How diverse is your network?
Are you courageous enough to abandon past successes?

These questions encourage continuous self-assessment and help leaders stay relevant in evolving environments.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

The pace of change today is unprecedented. Digital transformation, AI adoption, hybrid workplaces, and global competition demand leaders who are flexible, inclusive, and visionary. Traditional leadership development methods alone are no longer sufficient.

Organizations need leaders who:

Stay curious and continuously learn
Build inclusive and diverse teams
Embrace uncertainty with confidence
Focus on future possibilities rather than past achievements

Leadership is evolving from control-based management to influence-driven collaboration.

Final Thoughts

Being a great leader today isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions, staying open to change, and continuously evolving.

Roselinde Torres’ insights remind us that leadership is not static — it’s a dynamic journey shaped by curiosity, courage, and connection. Leaders who prepare for the future, cultivate diverse relationships, and adapt fearlessly will be the ones who truly thrive in the years ahead.