Is it time for a new style of leadership?
10/03/11

It’s a tricky time to be a leader. The recession might officially be over but business confidence is still weak, public sector cuts are imminent and many people are still feeling uncertain about the future. Added to this, ‘ followers’ across the globe now have  higher expectations of their leaders,  as has been so dramatically  demonstrated recently  in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. The world is changing and we are hopefully seeing an end to the days of the authoritarian and tyrannical political leaders, but what does this mean for the future of leadership in organisations? 

The successful leaders of tomorrow will certainly not be those who rely purely on the authority of their position, nor those who seek to exploit or control their people.  The successful leaders will be those who have earned the right to lead through their personal behaviour, values and actions. So what will be required of leaders in the future?

• They will need to shape the future and put in place a compelling vision for their organisation – a vision that both inspires individuals and  unites teams  with a shared purpose
• The courage to face up to uncertainty and embrace the unknown will be vital – this is not the time to be risk averse, leaders will need to be brave and bold, to explore possibilities and create new opportunities   
• They will be required to innovate and inspire innovation in others – without this no organisation will thrive in the years ahead
• Leaders will need to help people to find meaning, purpose and enjoyment in their work – the level of employee engagement will be more important than ever and the happiness of the workforce a key measure of success.

So what then are the implications of these future leadership requirements for today’s leaders? It is probably this - if they are going to deliver what is required of them in the years ahead and successfully lead their teams and organisations, then they need to start NOW by challenging themselves to think about the kind of leader they want/need to be. All that is left then is to take appropriate action to ensure they embody the new style of leadership that will be required. If you’re ready, we can help.

Call 01789 842700 to speak to Julie Pelych or one of our senior Leadership Team.