Originally published April 2020. Updated November 12, 2025.

By Laura Capell-Abra, Founder of Alpha Lupa

When the original 7Cs series was written in 2020, the world was in crisis. Managers were navigating uncharted territory, learning to lead remotely and to care for their people under extraordinary pressure. The focus then was on survival. Now, five years on, the context has changed, but the principles still hold true. Every team still faces uncertainty, complexity, and constant change.

The difference is that the crises have multiplied. Geopolitical tensions, economic instability, rapid technological disruption and environmental challenges have reshaped the way we work and live. Managers are no longer just navigating workplace change, but global turbulence that impacts people’s sense of safety, focus and motivation.

The 7Cs were born from a simple question: What do managers need most when everything feels unstable? The answer has not changed: clarity, connection, control, challenge, compassion, change, and courage. Each C represents a core capability for managers who want to lead with steadiness and humanity in modern work.

At Alpha Lupa, we see these 7Cs as a living framework that connects directly to the LUPA Method: Learn, Understand, Plan, Act. The 7Cs remind us that great management is not about having all the answers but about staying anchored in awareness, trust, and purposeful action.

Over the following blogs, we revisit each C with fresh relevance for 2025. You will find practical guidance, reflective prompts, and insight into how to keep your teams resilient, connected, and aligned in an unpredictable world.

Whatever your industry, geography, or role, these seven traits remain at the heart of great management. Because leading through change is no longer a one-off event, it is the job.