Leaders...there are some significant changes in the way you now need to work. Here's a brief rundown of the top 8 things to be aware of (and do something about):
1. Managing remote teams ("Obviously", I hear you say) This one is now old news, but the reality is that the dust still hasn’t settled - we haven't worked out how best to organise ourselves for maximum performance and staff happiness. This new approach to leadership relies heavily on technology, online communication and collaboration. Importantly, it also requires leaders to know what to do with their people when they have them in person, all in one room.
2. Focusing on empathy and wellbeing The pandemic shone a light on the best leaders, but also on those that needed to fine-tune their soft skills. The last few years have had a significant impact on people's mental health and wellbeing, so leaders need to recognise the challenges, know what’s on hand to support their colleagues, and be confident that the way they run their teams is a help, not a hindrance.
3. Demonstrating agility and flexibility ‘Agile leadership’ felt like a buzz phrase pre-pandemic, but now we have seen first-hand the need for agility and flexibility in leadership. It’s become a mandatory skillset to quickly adapt to changing circumstances, make decisions with limited information and pivot strategies when needed.
4. Owning diversity, equity, and inclusion The pandemic has brought issues of systemic inequality and injustice to the forefront, and at Hack Yourself, we believe leaders need to understand it, own it, and do something about it to stand any chance of making a difference and having an impactful career in modern organisations.
5. Delivering purpose and values The pandemic has led many people to re-evaluate their priorities and think differently about what is truly important to them and in their careers. To attract and retain the right talent, leaders must ensure that their organisations have a clear purpose and set of values. Practically, they must bring meaning to people’s work.
6. Understanding AI and its implications As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to dominate the news agenda (well, on my social feeds it does!), leaders must have a basic understanding of the technology and its implications for their companies. This includes understanding how it can automate tasks (impacting staffing needs), aid decision-making and creativity, and enhance customer experiences. Leaders must also be aware of the risks and ethical considerations, such as data privacy and bias.
7. Enabling leadership at all levels You don’t need a job title anymore to lead. Leaders must recognise this, and understand that it requires empowering and trusting employees to make decisions and take ownership of their work, as well as providing opportunities for upskilling and development.
8. Building future skills CEOs are worried that their teams don't have the skills for the future of work. To address this, leaders must prioritise building future skills within their teams to ensure their companies remain competitive in a rapidly changing business environment.
Final word...
As a leader, could you do more to develop yourself and your team with the future skills that are needed? Ps. the answer is always yes! To take your next step, check out these helpful links: Hack Yourself talks and masterclasses that we can deliver to your team Full-day courses on modern leadership and high performance for your team