“The most important, and indeed the
truly unique, contribution of management in the 20th century was the fifty-fold
increase in the productivity of the manual worker in manufacturing. The most
important contribution management needs to make in the 21st century is
similarly to increase the productivity of knowledge work and the knowledge
worker.” ―Peter F. Drucker
The 21st century
organizations need a different set of leaders and a unique leadership style
which is soft leadership coined by me. The challenges encountered in 20th
century are different than the ones being faced in 21st century. The
21st century organizations need leaders who treat their employees as
partners rather than followers. It calls for valuing people as people, not as
workers. It must emphasize on the concept - employees
first, customers second and shareholders third. When you look at global organizations like
Google and Virgin group, they believe in the concept of employees first,
customers second and shareholders third. Only when the employees are treated
and valued well, they will be able to work well to meet the rising customer
expectations and aspirations. When customers are happy with their goods and
services, they refer to other customers through word of mouth, and on social
media to get more and more customers. Increased customers bring increased
revenue to the 21st century organizations to improve organizational bottom
lines thus adding value to the shareholders. Hence, 21st century organizations
need leaders who treat their employees as partners and who value employees more
than customers.
What worked in the past might not work
in the present and future. Hence, there is an urgent need for 21st
century organizations to have leaders with a unique mindset, toolset and
skillset. Hence, we will explore soft leadership which is an innovative
leadership style. Soft leadership is a
blend of both soft skills and leadership. In this style, people skills are adopted
to lead people. The Gen Y are very smart, intelligent and ambitious. They are
more career-oriented, and are ready to sacrifice their family to fast-track
their careers.
The 21st century leaders
must have several skills and abilities to lead from the front. Here are some of
them:
Overcome
VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity). The global business environment is
highly dynamic and challenging. The competition is cut-throat. You must run a
little faster than everybody else to keep your lead. It is tough to predict the
very next moment because there is uncertainty everywhere, and there is no
guarantee that the decisions that you make will definitely deliver fruitful
results.
Embrace
change effectively.
Change is the only thing constant in this world. Organizations must change with
changing times and technologies, and leaders must be ready to lead the change.
Build
leadership pipeline.
Research shows that baby boomers are retiring globally and there is a
leadership vacuum as the Gen Y are not equipped to undertake leadership roles
and responsibilities. Hence, there is an
urgent need to provide leadership development programs to leaders at all levels
especially at the entry and middle levels who will be able to bridge the leadership-gap.
When leaders are ready, talent is
retained within the organizations to encounter challenges and achieve
organizational excellence and effectiveness.
Learn,
unlearn and relearn.
The leaders must learn new leadership tools and techniques regularly. They must
be flexible and act as per the situation as there is no tailor made solutions
to problems. They must discard what doesn’t work and quickly relearn new skills
and abilities to stay ahead of times and technologies.
Adopt
soft leadership style.
It is a new leadership style coined by me to lead employees by respecting and making
them special. It treats employees are partners. It doesn’t promote leadership
or followership.
“To survive in the twenty first century,
we are going to need a new generation of leaders – leaders, not managers.”
―Warren G. Bennis
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