Business looks different now than it did a few years back. Changes are rapidly occurring in how organizations are managed and led. These changes are driven by employees who value trust, transparency, equality, respect, & appreciation, and expect their leaders to demonstrate these values without exception. Traditional leadership and communication skills are still necessary, but are no longer enough to be qualified to lead.
Workforce volatility, remote and hybrid work, building and supporting diversity and inclusion in an organization, inflation, supply chain problems and other disruptions are accelerating the evolution of the CEO job and other leadership roles.
In order to succeed, today´s leaders must lean on and lean into the following:
Adaptability and resilience
Adaptability and resilience have taken a front row seat in all aspects of our lives. These skills are important for each individual, team and organization to keep thriving, but also are so extremely important when helping others survive and thrive during these challenging and unpredictable times. Most leaders have proven to demonstrate a certain degree of proficiency in adapting, but the pandemic has pushed everyone to the limit with long-term or ongoing crises, fatigue, and burnout. Without both adaptability and resilience from leaders and each individual at an organization there is significant risk of allowing productivity and morale to wither away.For an interesting take on resilience and how being a resilient leader can impact employees take a look at this brilliant HBR article.
Behavior is everything
Behavioral science and neuroscience are words that are coming up more and more frequently now in business.
An organization is its people.
Focusing on human behavior, decision making, cognitive biases is key to creating strategies that will allow leaders to be successful and meet objectives both internally and with external stakeholders.
Outstanding resource management
Resource management has always been a juggling act, but the pandemic is taking this to a new level. Leaders who can provide innovative solutions to problems with resources are more likely to meet objectives, reduce frustrations and maybe even make others happy.
Inclusive thinking and behavior
A positive, collaborative and remote working culture is a must have for many employees. Recruitment, training, and promotion need to be adapted accordingly. A diverse set of employees and skills need to be integrated into one comprehensive workplace for all. Team members who feel valued, respected, and accepted demonstrate higher level of engagement and performance. They are also less likely to leave. What should you be focusing on to develop those employees who stay?
Quick and effective problem solving
Many companies are facing complex problems and there is no clear solution to properly address those problems. Leaders who can break down these problems into manageable pieces and quickly find effective solutions to those will gain an edge. How can you ignite innovative thinking around problem solving? Expert problem solving requires clearly identifying key issues that are barriers to success, developing, documenting, and communicating proposed solutions, as well as implementing, monitoring, measuring the results and iterating as needed.
Agility Required
The ability to make quick and flexible changes based on current and future internal and external situations might just be the#1 required skill of the decade.The ability to anticipate, respond quickly to change, and adapt accordingly as needed increases the likelihood of success in uncertainty and success in seizing opportunities when they arise. A big part of this is knowing what your priorities are and adjusting how you spend your time accordingly.
Coaching as leadership
The best leaders understand the need to put their people in the center of everything they do.Today´s leader needs to know when to coach, when to mentor, when to advise and when to direct his team. The leader has the ability to skillfully play all of these roles as needed. Leaders must wear many hats. In this great article Jenny M Fernandez, MBA, 费 珍妮 and Luis Velasquez MBA, PhD. share the most important relationships that professional must cultivate to build a successful career. Which of those role are you playing for others and who is playing them for you?
If you are a leader or aspiring leader mastering these important skills is key to setting yourself up for success.
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Facilitation, Appreciation, and Empowerment are leadership superpowers.
Leadership is not determined by title. It is about who you are and how you interact with others. Great leaders are lifelong learners. They are focused on continuous improvement, and strengthening their ability to adapt and to face challenges as learning opportunities.
What are you doing now to be a great leader?
What can you start doing tomorrow?
Please share your experiences.
Some bonus material:
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Thanks,
Michele
