Sunday, November 5, 2017

Leadership, Then and Now




Financial success still remains the ultimate goal, but the best path to get there has changed. The traditional leadership focus on results and production has now been heavily layered with innovation, disruption, leader as coach, and a heavy dose of emotional intelligence. Plus, the concept of long-term planning has been redefined.

Let's consider the evolution,

Yesterday’s Leadership Imperatives:

  • Results trump everything. Finish the project on time, come in under budget, and hit the goals if you want to be recognized. Have the same expectations for your team.
  • Follow the stated protocol. Use Best Practice as a guide, and limit coloring outside the lines.
  • Data rules. Know your facts, inside and out. Always work in a systematic, methodical manner.
  • Visibility is mandatory. Being seen in the office working long hours is the best way to get ahead and set a good example for your team.
  • Seniority matters. Understand the org chart, and respect the chain of command.
Today’s Leadership Imperatives:

  • Coach and develop others. Look beyond the immediate deadline, and take time to help team members learn and grow.
  • Influence with emotion. Inspire people to share the vision. Provide compelling insights using metaphors, personal stories, and moving visuals that touch the head and the heart.
  • Foster innovation. Think outside the box. Move past adhering to Best Practice and work on establishing new ones. Balance the pressure to hit short-term goals with creating new opportunities for the future. Take risks when appropriate.
  • Allow for disruption. Encourage creativity and questions. Shake it up. Accept that some mistakes may happen on the way to a real breakthrough. Provide options for people to work when and where they are most productive.
  • Give back. Weave social consciousness into the fabric of your work by volunteering, organizing a charity event or hosting a fundraiser.
  • Communicate generously. Use frequent, clear messages to keep team members at all levels in the loop. Be as transparent as possible, and use social media for anywhere/anytime contact.


Leadership evolution is admirable, and companies that apply these updated strategies are reaping the benefits. When leaders are groomed with this set of leadership competencies, the organizations experience a significant increase in a number of key areas: productivity, employee engagement, loyalty, job satisfaction and most importantly profitability. Companies win. Employees win. Customers and communities win.

Despite evidence that strongly supports this new brand of leadership, some leaders are still operating exclusively under the old set of imperatives. Have you embraced the leadership evolution? If so, how has it changed your impact? If not, what’s holding you back?

Please leave your thoughts!


reference


Canaday,S. (2017). leaders then and now [online] Available at: https://www.saracanaday.com/ [Accessed on 05.11.2017]

3 comments:

  1. I personally believes companies that apply these updated strategies are reaping benefits. When leaders are groomed with richer set of competencies in return there productivity employee engagement loyalty job satisfaction and.most importantly profits increases. Win to win situation for organisations employees custimer6and also thr community.

    ReplyDelete
  2. New leadership Imperatives pays more focus on people side which I believe is right as it will drive the company towards achieving it s mission through a set of highly motivated satisfied workforce.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Leadership evolution has to be carried out in every organization for the development of the company and also for the career development of the employers and employees. It enhances a healthy working place with dedicated workforce and increases the mutual understanding among the employers and employees. It also helps in maximum retention of the employees which is very important for the productivity of a business.

    ReplyDelete