Successful Leadership Today: What to Do Now

George Bernard Shaw said, “Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

To change one’s mind requires re-examining old beliefs and determining what is now most important.

How has leadership changed and what should you be doing now?

Here are ten things you need to do and develop as essential skills:

1. Initiate Change

Historically leaders have more often than not reacted to change, some have embraced it but only the brave few initiated it. 

There are two kinds of change. The first is imposed. Whether a change in technology you must adopt to keep up or an economic circumstance, a force outside the leader’s control has created the need for change.

The second is initiated change. This is change that provides an advantage. First, it is done as an opportunity rather than a reaction to crisis. Secondly, if done strategically, it can keep an organization ahead of the needs of its employees, customers and competitors.

Today, leaders win by changing before it is necessity and faster than their competitors.

While initiated change can be risky (there is no guarantee they will work), it is even risker, however is to be playing catch up.

2. Build Strong Blended Teams

No leader can single-handedly achieve success. Leaders must be skilled at identifying and nurturing talent and creating a culture of teamwork.

Good teamwork has always been an essential, but only lately have teams existed in a virtual space. Blended teams combine on site employees with those working off site and create an additional level of difficulty. Blended teams work together across time and space, and that presents unique challenges.

3. Drive Innovation

If innovation is an option, few will choose it. It requires doing things differently, upsetting the status quo and working in new ways. Innovation is the key to staying ahead of the competition. Leaders must encourage creativity and experimentation, and create an environment where failure is viewed as an opportunity to learn and grow. Trying lots of new things and abandoning what doesn’t work, however, is a part of the innovator’s playbook that hasn’t changed.

4. Commit to Inclusivity

Diversity and inclusivity shouldn’t be obligatory buzzwords but a commitment necessary to any successful organization. Leaders must promote a culture of inclusivity and actively seek out diverse perspectives and opinions. Inclusion means everyone is invited to participate with ideas and opinions are that they are valued for their unique contributions. Like most important things, it is easier said than done. Ultimately, it is about giving respect to those you’ve invited to be part of your team.

5. Make Employee Well-being a Priority

Leaders must prioritize the well-being of their employees. Today’s workforce values work-life balance and mental health as much as financial compensation. A leader who cares for their employees will have a loyal and motivated workforce.

As someone who has been in business over 40 years, I know there is a sentiment that it is up to employees to “take care of themselves” and “be happy.” While I agree there is an important element of personal responsibility, leaders should ask themselves two questions: 1. What do we do that makes it difficult for employees to be happy and healthy? and 2. What might we do to make it easier? That is what employee well-being is about.

6. Earn and Bolster Trust

Trust is a timeless concept. Why include it in a list of what leaders must do now, or must do differently.

Trust in institutions and leaders are at low levels. With spin and fake news, nobody is exactly sure who to trust.

Historically trust was given to people, right or wrong, because of their position or credentials.

Today it must be earned.

Trust is still the foundation of any successful relationship, and it is no different for leaders. Leaders must be transparent, honest, and consistent in their actions and communication, building trust with their teams and stakeholders.

7. Communicate Concisely

A symptom of the age is a world drowning in information. One of the biggest mistakes leaders have always made is that “more is better,” that good communication means sharing lots of information.

More isn’t necessarily better. To cut through the noise, leaders need to be concise and learn how to communicate important concepts and information in a compelling and quick way. That means starting with the point, providing enough supporting information to prove the point, and being clear on a call to action.

Also, in today’s world of remote work, effective communication has become diverse. Leaders need to skilled at communicating across different channels, including email, video conferencing, and instant messaging, to keep their teams connected and aligned.

8. Promote Continuous Learning:

Continuous learning is essential in a rapidly changing world. Leaders must prioritize their own learning and encourage their teams to do the same, to stay ahead of the curve and be ready for the challenges of the future.

Leaders need a learning agenda to be maximally effective. She needs to be aware of knowing what they need to learn, as well as what they want to learn, and then taking steps to do it. And leaders should work with those they lead to make sure team members have learning agendas as well.

9. Embody Values

Do you lead by example and embody the company values you espouse? A leader who models the behavior they expect from their team will earn their respect and create a positive work environment. People listen to words but believe actions.

10. Paint the Future Largely and Clearly.

Finally, leaders must have a vision and focus on the big picture. They must be able to see beyond short-term goals and focus on the long-term strategy, making decisions that will benefit the organization in the long run. And the includes all the people who work in that organization. Vision statements fail because they often leave out the people most needed to achieve them: employees. Have you painted a picture of the future that will make your employees want to be part of your team in 5 or 10 years?

 

When did you last think about how leadership has changed, and how you should lead now? I hope these ideas will help you answer that question.

Mark Sanborn is an award winning speaker, leadership strategist and Leadership Expert in Residence at High Point University, the Premier Life Skills University. He also advises executives and professional speakers on how to speak more powerfully. For more information about his work, visit www.marksanborn.com.