What will leadership look like twenty years from now? Answers to this question were recently published on Forbes.com. Do you agree with the following predictions?
1. More questions
While current leaders are focused on finding answers, future leaders will put more emphasis on asking the right questions. The reason is simple - modern technology allows us to find answers quite easily. Therefore, it is necessary to know what to ask.
2. Greater involvement of employees and customers
Leadership has long been a matter of hierarchical control from top-down. In the near future, however, decision making can no longer be managed only from the top. Employees and customers will become more deeply involved. The best leaders will work with customer and employee ideas and needs.
3. Managing change and chaos
Global business is being driven by constant changes which are happening faster and faster. Future leaders will stop trying to simplify a chaotic world and searching for best practices. Planning will be replaced by intelligent proaction. They will not rely only on proven methods and processes, but keep on learning. They will accept that constant change is something not to worry about.
4. Focus on growth and innovation
The battle for the competitive advantage will no longer be a matter of efficiency, but growth. Successful companies will be those who able to continually improve and better commercialize their products. That will require leaders who are able to understand and reward the skills and behaviors that lead to innovation.
5. Deeper purpose
Everyone needs to see a real purpose in their work and this will be more important in the future. Employees and customers will have a stronger say in who they want to work for and what products they want to be associated with. Leaders will focus their efforts on bring positive experiences.
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