The Leadership Traits That Actually Matter Right Now

Product supremo Craig Unsworth on what good leadership looks like in a fast-moving, AI-shaped world. One of the smartest observers of how AI is transforming work, this post from his Chiefly Product Substack is a practical guide to how leadership is changing, what matters now, and how to self check

https://chieflyproduct.substack.com/

What I’m seeing and hearing

I’ve spent the past few months in rooms with CEOs, CPOs, CTOs, investors, and operators across a mix of businesses. Different sectors. Different scales. Different problems. But the same underlying tension keeps coming up:

Things are moving faster than people feel comfortable with - and many leaders haven’t quite caught up.

Not because they’re not smart. Not because they’re not experienced. But because the shape of leadership itself is changing.

So, here’s my simple take on what actually matters right now.

1. Comfort with pace (even when it feels uncomfortable)

The leaders who are thriving aren’t necessarily the ones with the best plans. They’re the ones who can operate inside the chaos without freezing. They:

• Make decisions with imperfect information

• Move before they feel fully ready

• Adjust quickly when they’re wrong

If you’re still waiting for clarity before acting, you’re already behind.

2. A genuine relationship with AI (not just a passing interest)

There’s a big gap opening up between leaders who use AI and those who talk about AI. The former:

• Are hands-on

• Experiment regularly

• Understand what’s possible (and what isn’t)

The latter:

• Delegate it

• Theorise about it

• Treat it as someone else’s job

That gap is going to become a chasm.

3. Tech nativity over tech literacy

It’s no longer enough to “understand technology”. Strong leaders today:

• Think in systems

• Understand how things connect

• See where data, workflows, and automation intersect

They don’t need to code. But they do need to think like builders.

4. Product thinking as a default lens

Even outside of “product roles”, the best leaders are:

• Obsessed with outcomes, not activity

• Clear on who the user is

• Ruthless about prioritisation

They don’t ask “what should we do next?” They ask “what actually moves the needle?”

5. Saying no (properly)

Most organisations don’t have a strategy problem. They have a too many things problem. Strong leaders:

• Kill work

• De-scope aggressively

• Protect focus

And crucially, they explain why. A weak “no” creates friction. A strong “no” creates alignment. Lots of leaders - especially those who have historically been the provider of a “yes” - find this very difficult.

6. Communication that actually lands

Not more communication. Better communication. That means:

• Clarity over cleverness

• Repetition without apology

• Context, not just instruction

7. Emotional steadiness

This one is underrated. In a world of constant change:

• Teams look for signals

• Small reactions get amplified

• Uncertainty spreads quickly

The best leaders don’t panic publicly. They create calm, even when things are messy behind the scenes.

The thread that ties this together

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being adaptable, intentional, and present in how you lead. The uncomfortable truth? (A favourite phrase these days it seems)… A lot of what made someone successful 5-10 years ago is no longer enough on its own. And the leaders who accept that fastest are the ones who will pull away.

One question for you

Where are you still leading like it’s 2020? And what would change if you updated that this week?

Turning This Into Action - A Quick Self-Check

If you want to pressure-test yourself, use this as a simple weekly check-in…

Score yourself from 1–5 on each:

• Pace - Did I move fast enough this week?

• AI - Did I use it, not just discuss it?

• Tech thinking - Did I think in systems or silos?

• Product lens - Did I focus on outcomes over activity?

• Focus - What did I actively say no to?

• Communication - What did I repeat until it landed?

• Leadership presence - Did I create calm or noise?

Anything below a 3 is a signal.

Not to panic. But certainly to adjust. Because right now, leadership isn’t static. It’s a moving target. And the best leaders are the ones who keep moving with it.