Leading from Anywhere: Driving Results in the Age of Distributed Work

i4cp’s global study, led by renowned thought leader Rob Cross, presents a new way of thinking about leadership and how to drastically increase productivity and performance.
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The leadership crisis is real.
Discover how traditional leadership models are breaking under the weight of distributed work—and what top companies are doing differently.
i4cp’s latest executive brief reveals:
  • Why leadership burnout is rising—and what to do about it.
  • How distributed work requires a comprehensive, new approach to leadership.
  • Why improving the performance of lower-quartile leaders can drive a 32% productivity jump.
The i4cp management team

Download the executive brief to see the study’s four key findings—and the six capabilities that drive leadership effectiveness in distributed work.

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How Can Leaders Thrive in the Age of Distributed Work?

The Leading from Anywhere study is a groundbreaking research initiative by i4cp, co-authored by Rob Cross, SVP of Research and professor at Babson College. Based on insights from over 800 global survey respondents and 200 executive interviews, the report uncovers why traditional leadership development is failing and what leaders need to succeed in increasingly distributed workplaces.

58% of leaders report being only “somewhat” effective at managing distributed teams. Burnout is escalating, and many feel overwhelmed by the rising complexity of leading across time zones, values, functions, and technologies—not just physical distance.

i4cp’s research identifies six leadership levers that drive results when contextually applied:
  1. Culture – Fostering team trust, purpose, and energy.
  2. Structure – Clarifying priorities and workflows with project-based models.
  3. Talent – Tailoring one-on-ones, feedback, and recognition to team needs.
  4. Well-being – Encouraging practices that promote resilience and sustainable workloads.
  5. Boundary Management – Facilitating smart collaboration inside and outside the team.
  6. Technology – Aligning collaboration norms and using AI tools effectively.

Leaders who effectively deploy these levers can realize up to 6X greater performance. Specifically, teams led with strong cultural practices see a 34% boost in results. Improving poor managers to average yields a 32% productivity gain.

Most programs assume a “one-size-fits-all” model. i4cp’s research shows that leadership effectiveness is contextual—what works for one leader may fail for another. Success requires flexible, situation-specific support—not more generic frameworks.

The study outlines four negative archetypes:
  • The Turtle – Avoids conflict, fosters low accountability.
  • The Chess Master – Over-controls, micromanages.
  • The Marshmallow – Offers no structure or direction.
  • The Firefighter – Focuses solely on execution, neglects growth.

Stop focusing solely on turning good leaders into great ones. Significant gains come from elevating bottom-quartile leaders to average. Use targeted diagnostics and peer learning to improve both leader behavior and their surrounding context.
Stop focusing solely on turning good leaders into great ones. Significant gains come from elevating bottom-quartile leaders to average. Use targeted diagnostics and peer learning to improve both leader behavior and their surrounding context.

49% of companies are already using AI agents in workflows. The report emphasizes that leaders must learn to manage hybrid teams of humans and AI—marking a new era where “digital labor” becomes a core part of team dynamics.

The full Leading from Anywhere is available exclusively to i4cp members. It’s a must-read for HR leaders and executives looking to drive performance in the modern workplace.