Australian Leadership Crisis: Over 50% of Executives Feel 
Ill-Prepared for 
Post-COVID Challenges

Dave Yeates
Published
14 Jan
2024

Byron Bay, 28th November, 2024 – As organisations grapple with the complexities of hybrid work, economic pressures, and industry-wide transformation, a five-year Australian research initiative is offering a lifeline for leaders. MetaAgility®, a new leadership development framework created by TheNXT, aims to equip executives with the skills needed to navigate the ever-evolving demands of the post-COVID world.

Leadership readiness has emerged as a critical concern globally, with research exposing significant gaps. Deloitte’s recent studies reveal that only 41% of organisations feel prepared for today’s leadership demands. Meanwhile, Right Management highlights that just 23% of managers are ready to lead through complexity, and IMD reports fewer than 15% of leaders feel equipped to handle the pace of digital disruption. These findings reflect a growing urgency for innovative leadership tools like MetaAgility® to bridge the readiness gap and foster resilience in the face of rapid change.

Addressing Australia’s Leadership Challenges

MetaAgility® is already being heralded as a critical tool for leaders in some of Australia’s most vital sectors:

  • Mining: Leaders must balance sustainability goals with economic and technological imperatives while navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
  • Energy: The transition to renewable energy and net-zero targets demands strategic agility to align diverse stakeholder priorities and operational goals.
  • Government: Public trust and policy agility are paramount as leaders face heightened socio-political expectations.

Andrew Mooney, Former General Manager at BHP, highlighted MetaAgility®’s impact on his team:

“Their approach significantly enhanced our project delivery by integrating practical leadership tools with mindset shifts. The result was not just better outcomes but also a more cohesive, resilient team ready to navigate complexity and uncertainty.”

Why MetaAgility® Matters Now

“Leadership has been fundamentally redefined over the past few years,” says Peter Holliday, Co-Founder of TheNXT. “The hybrid work era, combined with the unprecedented pace of change, has created a unique set of challenges for executives. MetaAgility® provides the frameworks leaders need to meet those challenges head-on.”

As Australia approaches an election year and industries brace for further disruption, the demand for visionary and adaptive leaders has never been greater. MetaAgility®’s insights empower leadership teams to build resilience, foster innovation, and drive long-term sustainability across their organisations.

From Research to Action

MetaAgility® is the culmination of a five-year study into leadership dynamics in a post-COVID world. It combines cutting-edge research with practical tools, focusing on areas such as team resilience, complexity management, and strategic foresight. A free whitepaper detailing the principles behind MetaAgility® is now available at MetaAgility.co.

For more information, contact:
Dave Yeates
Co-Founder
TheNXT
+61401597536

Quotes from Customers

Andrew Mooney
Saman Attarian

About theNXT

TheNXT is an Australian organisation dedicated to enhancing leadership effectiveness and organisational adaptability in the face of complex challenges. They focus on developing scalable solutions that enable leaders, teams, and organisations to become more adaptive, collaborative, innovative, and resilient amidst constant uncertainty and change.
A central offering from TheNXT is their MetaAgility® framework, which integrates various leadership theories into a new paradigm for organisational leadership. This framework is designed to help leaders transcend traditional limitations and better navigate complex environments.

Additionally, TheNXT produces the "What's NXT Podcast," featuring discussions with thought leaders on topics such as leadership, innovation, agility, and change.