I see a new face on leadership developing and not just in specific industries. As generation Y begins their assimilation into the workforce, the relational side of the business world is changing. We have all heard the expression cutting edge used to describe new, possibly outside the box, thinking related to technology and education.
Leadership is no different. Cutting edge thinking on leadership is going to look completely different than the days of the Iacocca, Lombardi and Churchill. Today’s leaders like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Larry Page are today’s cutting edge. They have transformed the leadership style that will take us into the future.
Let’s face it, the work force is changing and honestly, they are more concerned with quality of life than they are with income. This will require a new way of thinking related to the employee pool available to fill today’s office space?
Here are 4 ways to make sure you stay on the cutting edge as you lead your team forward:
1. Accessibility
Social media and the power of electronic communication have completely change the landscape of the way we communicate. Communication is “real time” in almost every sense of the word. I barely even use the fax machine anymore. Print, scan, email – Done. Texting, freeconferencing.com, GoToWebinar.com. These are all tools that make it simple to transfer information and hold meetings without the need to even show up at the office.
2. Branding
Twenty years ago your brand was the name on your label. Today your brand basically represents everything you stand for. Some would argue that your brand is the most important thing there is related to you or your business. A blow to your brand me be enough to put you out of business. Protecting it is something that businesses focus on daily with great attention and effort.
3. Credibility
Nothing escapes the media today. Not only do we hear about everything in real time but everything really means everything. There are no secrets anymore. Inevitably, the truth will come out. Regardless of everything else that might challenge you on a daily basis, your credibility will either make you or break you. The cutting edge leader is concerned with the credibility of everyone on the team.
4. Engagement
If you want to be successful and advance in your industry, you better do whatever it takes to have the engagement of your workforce. Grass being greener on the other side of the fence has never been more prevalent than it is today. Workers want the workplace to be fun and challenging. I think the most important way to keep workers engaged is to mix it up a little. We have the tendency to become complacent within the world we live in and the minute that happens, we lose the fire that was once had and we become preoccupied with what something else might look like.
The bottom line is that the new leader needs to be a continual thinker. Not that yesteryear’s leaders were not thinkers, but today the need to think outside the box is needed more than ever. Everyone know’s what the other guy is doing and if you don’t think of that next great idea, someone else will and there goes the neighborhood.
If you want to be cutting edge today, you better stay ahead of the curve. If things have been pretty much the same in your workplace the last few years, what makes you think anything will change in the next few?
The bleeding edge leader says “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” The cutting edge leader says “I better improve it before it breaks.” What will you do today to change the way you think?
***********************************************************************
Don’t miss a single post from Building What Matters by subscribing at the top left of this page.
Help support us by clicking here and Liking our facebook page
Barry Smith www.buildingwhatmatters.com 9/17/12 photo by author
