This post is part 1 in our Leadership Series examining what
it takes to be a leader in today’s quickly evolving workforce.
As the pace of change continues to accelerate, new
leadership skills are emerging and becoming increasingly important in today’s
business environment. Success will
require a combination of traditional leadership with the adoption of the modern
skills needed in the 21st century workforce.
No matter what industry you are looking to work in, you can
begin now to take steps to develop your leadership potential. The first step is
understanding what skills are needed. Below we discuss three that are common
among today’s successful leaders.
Adaptability
If there is one word to describe what is happening in
today’s business climate, it is “change.” The recession caused many companies
to downsize or reorganize while technology and new start-ups are disruptive
forces that require companies to constantly innovate in order to stay relevant.
In many cases, being able to adapt quickly is one of the key
differences between success and failure. Think about it. What do Kodak,
Blockbuster, and Borders have in common? Their inability to adapt when faced with
disruptive market forces was the primary reason they went out of business or
lost significant market share.
Although change can be challenging for everyone involved, it
also presents opportunities for leaders who can guide their employees through
change and help the organization adapt more quickly. As a leader, you will need
to be flexible, to be able to identify opportunities, and to inspire employees
to take the action needed to seize these opportunities
Innovation
As Steve Jobs stated, “Innovation distinguishes between a
leader and a follower.” That has never
been truer than it is today.
The pace of innovation in the marketplace requires leaders
to not only adapt, but create new opportunities to stay ahead of their
competitors. As a result, many leaders are becoming more “entrepreneurial” in
their approach to innovation. They are
always looking for new opportunities to improve, create, and keep customers
satisfied.
Effective leaders realize that innovation does not come from
a single person. They leverage the collective creative capacity of their
employees, partners, suppliers, and the feedback of their customers when
looking for new and better ways of achieving their mission. They strive to
build a culture that fosters the creativity needed for innovation.
Collaboration
Whether your smartphone, your favorite social network, or
the latest technology, it is safe to say there was an entire team that helped
to make that product successful. While teamwork has always been important in
the workplace, the level of collaboration that must take place will continue to
increase as more sophisticated products are introduced to increasingly
sophisticated consumers.
Rather than just working within a team based on their
organizational function, effective leaders are bringing together employees with
different skill sets, experiences, and unique perspectives and uniting them under
one common goal. They encourage each employee to voice their ideas and
solutions. They must develop the ability to recognize and develop an array of
talented individuals, and build teams that bring these diverse talents
together.
Today’s leaders understand their development is an ongoing
process. They constantly try to improve their leadership skills and are always
eager to learn. Of course the three skills shared here will not be the only
ones you will find useful. As the business climate continues to change, so will
the skills you will need to be successful. If you are interested in learning
more about preparing for leadership in the workplace, take a look at our
Bachelor Science in Integrated Leadership and Master of Science inOrganizational Leadership and Management programs. They are specifically
designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to succeed in a leadership
role.
