McKinsey released a new study investigating how leaders lead and how that has changed in the last year. 

Executives say the two most critical kinds of individual leadership behavior for managing through the current global crisis are:

• Presenting an inspiring vision (cited by 48 percent of respondants)

• Defining expectations and rewarding achievement (47 percent)

Interestingly, these behaviors—inspiration and defining expectations and rewards—have been shown by a previous McKinsey study to be used more often by female leaders. Additionally, they are the two most positively influenced by having three or more women on a corporate board, McKinsey's other work shows.

The report also states that the kinds of leadership behavior that executives say will most help their companies through the current crisis, such as inspiring others and defining expectations and rewards, are the same ones they say will help their companies thrive in the future.

Looking beyond the crisis, McKinsey says companies would also do well to develop the kinds of leadership behavior that support innovation, such as challenging assumptions and encouraging risk taking and creativity.

Click here to download the full article.