The Modern Leader

The Hotpot | November 2025 | By Lisanne

21.11

The difference between leaders ten years ago and leaders today is the workforce.

Decades ago, the unspoken contract was more blunt: Push harder, do more, follow the playbook.

The system was built for compliance, and the leader was the warden.

The factory floor had a punch clock, and your worth was measured by the hours you gave away.

Now, that contract is obsolete. The culture has changed. People have spoken. The rules of engagement are different.

We’ve decided that giving away every hour to grinding gears is a waste. We also don’t want to work every waking hour anymore. Today, we demand a different idea of what work is and what it means.

We are trading hours for meaning, not just money.

Leaders might not love every part of this change, but ignoring it is costly.

Because the A-players always have options, they’ll look for places where they feel satisfied. The rest might stay, but they commit to shipping only the minimum viable effort. You pay for their chair, but you don’t get their magic. This loss is the premium you pay for being less competitive in the labor market.

I guess leadership today is not about enforcing old rhythms. It’s about designing environments where people choose to show up—and bring their best.

It’s an invitation.

Are you going to be the kind of leader who sets the stage for your team’s best performance?

Or the one still shouting at a silent, empty theater?

Thank you for reading! The journal prompt of today:

How can you create a space where people want to bring their best, not have to?

Let me know in the comments.

Curious to see more reflections like this? Click through to see the rest of the series on leadership. I’d love to hear what resonates with you.