Since 2012, there has been a dramatic shift in the style of leadership that most people prefer. Here are seven signs that you may have missed as this shift occurred:
1. Empower: One sign you might have missed is that people don’t want to be told what to do. They want to be informed about what needs to be accomplished, and then left alone to get the job done.
2. Listen: One sign you might have missed is that being seen is not as important as being attentive. Leaders listen and engage only when needed and appropriate.
3. Knowing: One sign you might have missed is that no one expects you to know everything, so don’t try to make people think you do. Don’t be afraid to surround yourself with great people, and then credit them for being a valuable source of knowledge.
4. Failure: One sign you might have missed is that failure is now an option. Leaders are now the first to admit an error, and followers are reassured that mistakes will be seen as learning opportunities.
5. Drivers: One sign you might have missed is that balance sheets no longer drive business decisions; people do.
6. A’s hire A’s: One sign you might have missed is that A-level people now look to hire another A, instead of a B at a lower salary.
7. Purpose: One sign you might have missed is that money is no longer viewed as a primary incentive — but having a shared sense of purpose is.
Don Trone, Mary Lou Wattman and Rear Admiral Steve Branham, USCG (retired) are the co-founders of 3ethos. Their research and training programs are focused on the intersection between leadership, stewardship and governance. Don and Mary are the co-authors of the recently released book, LeaderMetrics®: What Key Decision-makers Need to Know When Serving in a Critical Leadership Role.
Opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NAPA or its members.
