Leadership is a hot topic.
Everywhere you look, great leaders are sharing insight and information.
Everyone wants to know what is new in leadership.
But with so much talk about leadership what can we bring to the table that is new?
How can we keep the conversation fresh?
Sometimes what is new is difficult to see.
It is difficult because so many of leadership’s fundamentals are unchanged.
As time passes, the behaviors, actions, and practices of an effective leader tend to look familiar.
However, what doesn’t look familiar is our workplace.
What has changed is our culture.
Things are different now then they were five, ten, twenty years ago. Our workplace culture is drastically different.
Technology has changed everything.
Information is available immediately and on a 24-hour news cycle.
Ideas move very far and very fast. And with a workforce that is constantly plugged in, the line between work time and personal time is blurred.
The web has shrunken our world. We can now have effortless connection and interaction with a workforce that is no longer homogenous.
The variety of cultures, genders, and nationalities that we are connected to has changed the professional environment.
Today the context of leadership is different.
Today we have new demands.
Today’s workforce demands more authenticity and transparency from its leaders.
They are thirsty for integrity.
They long to trust and to be trusted by those in positions of leadership.
As leaders, we are expected to exhibit more heart and employ less heavy-handed power.
We must lead with open minds, open hearts and open will.
We must value collaboration over competition.
Our workforce needs its leaders to change. So we must.
Today’s leadership begins from within.
While these changes are personal in nature, they won’t be made solely for us. They must be made for everyone in our organization.
Leadership, now more than ever, is about personal awareness and personal mastery. When leaders understand themselves – when you understand yourself, you are better equipped to help others.
This inside out leadership will make a difference not only to us but also to the world.
Lead from Within: What’s “new” in leadership? “New” leadership is leading so that your organization reaps the benefits of who you are and who you are becoming.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.
Dan Forbes
24. Jul, 2012
You nailed it Lolly. The masses are indeed demanding more authenticity and transparency. I almost said “more integrity” too, but with integrity you either have it or your don’t.
You are right, leadership is no longer a position. True leadership attracts followers and collaborators.
Lead from within. YES.
Dr. Ada
24. Jul, 2012
You are right. A different context requires different skills in leadership. Was just reading today an interesting report from the Center for Creative Leadership that mentions 5 “new ideas.”
#1: GET YOUR BRAIN IN THE GAME
#2: EXPAND THE LEADERSHIP EQUATION
#3: NURTURE YOUR NETWORKS
#4: POWER UP NONPROFIT PARTNERSHIPS
#5: ELEVATE COACHING IMPACT
Nothing really “new” on it, but the combination and the importance of context is interesting. If anything, it points again to the importance of the self and heart of the leader. And that is not really new!
Thanks again for an excellent post!
Larry Dawson
24. Jul, 2012
Lolly, as Mahatma Gandhi said “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Leadership always begins with self mastery. How can a leader complain about a lack of excellence among their staff if the leader is not striving for excellence in their own role and interactions. How can a leader gripe that nobody on their staff understands strategy if the leader does not? The days of “do as I say, not as I do” are gone. You are correct that leadership begins from within and is about self awareness and self mastery. Thank you for your astute observations.
Chris Channer
25. Jul, 2012
Like this and I agree with the big change being in organisational culture; for me the issue has always been that there is too much out there. people like you and I are always telling people how to lead, what skils they need .
In fact I thibnk they need to refocus on the basic principles:
1. Trust
2. Communication
3. Consistency
4. Credibility
5. Resilience
Get these right and your well on the way, get anyone of them wrong and you can p[ack up and go home, a leader you will not be.
@chrischanner1
Jeff Bryant
25. Jul, 2012
Agree the workforce is looking for more authentic and transparent leaders. It is nice to also remember that these are characteristics, among others, that must be attributed to a leader by others as opposed to a self-proclamation.
Liezel Schutte
30. Jul, 2012
Self Leadership with an intention of being authenitaclly present, aware and concious in each moment. When this is achieved by enouch people to reach a tipping point, we won’t need to look outside for Leaders with the necessary skills to lead others without these skills.
Liezel