Since the outbreak of Covid-19, many things have changed and many things have remained the same. But one thing Covid-19 did, it put the magnifying glass on leadership: who handled Covid-19 and who didnt? Leaders around the world were evaluated and given pass or fail marks. No one was spared. Martin Luther King said it right:
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”
The old leadership models don’t work anymore because we live in unprecedented times where the challenges are more complex than ever while the future is uncertain. Leaders have to be able to deal with ambiguity. In short, leadership demands are of an unprecedented nature, also because our models are a century old, based on the industrialist age. We have moved beyond that, which can also be seen with the massive amount of investment in leadership development. Every year, $ 366 million are spent globally, yet, we don’t see any real progress.
Deloitte, a leading consultancy company, has done research among global leaders and companies. The secret sauce to successful leadership is surprising and goes against what we think and are taught: design from the #heart and #head#. But when you think about it, its logical for two main reason: (1) when a company does not take care of its main assets, which are its people but also the costumer, it will fail. When you need to stay competitive, your number one asset is knowledge that comes from your staff and no one else. Costumers will only buy what brings value to them and if you stand out. Apple certainly does not have the best camera lenses but people want the lifestyle and brand with that phone and they are ready to pay for that. (2) Leaders need to create a #save space for staff to work. When everyone is busy covering up, not engaged, and able to voice criticism, how will innovation flourish, that makes you the “go to” company? It will not work.
Staff and costumers need to rally behind your mission and your purpose. No one will go the extra mile and buy a product that doesn’t fulfill our deepest human emotions. Its an illusion that we built for decades in our minds, that, once we enter the professional world, we leave ourselves at the door step. We are logical beings but also emotional. We want to be heard and valued. Every costumer wants to be valued and their needs addressed. Leaders will need to stay committed to the heart and mind to be successful.
