Here are 7 skills and characteristics we need in leaders in the coming years:
1. Authentic Vulnerability. Highly ego-driven leadership, or as Richard Boyatzis calls it “dissonant leadership”, leads to distrust, fear, and ultimately less effectiveness on teams. Conversely, “Being vulnerable gets the static out of the way and lets us do the job together, without worrying or hesitating” says Harvard vulnerability researcher Jeff Polzer (5). With the proliferation of self-proclaimed experts and gurus seemingly everywhere online these days, people have developed a high intolerance for inauthenticity. We need leaders with the kind of self-awareness and fortitude to be vulnerable and authentic, and to create “islands of trust” where their teams can also practice authetnic vulnerability. As the Google studies showed, “psychological safety” is something people both long for and thrive under.
2. Compassion, love in action. Technical knowledge, effective strategy, and a deep understanding of the industry are wonderful things to purse, but without compassion they won’t move people. Compassion is like love in action. Jesus “had compassion” on the crowds. This moved him to feed them, heal them, and help them. People are moved by compassion, touched by it. It takes a strong and humble leader to have compassion, to care. It takes self-awareness, emotional intelligence and humility. Compassion isn’t weakness, it’s strength.
3. Higher Purpose Our society has long struggled with leaders who are self-serving. From Enron to the financial crisis of 2008, we’ve seen the fallout of such an orientation and it isn’t good for anyone. Leaders and organizations who genuinely pursue higher porpose are not only more effective, but more effective in a way that is good for their people and communities (7). It’s the kind of good that brings “full-spectrum” flourishing as Dr. Cooperrider says.
When referencing “Purpose”, I am talking about a higher good that is beyond personal interest or glory. I am speaking of purpose that serves the good of others. There are three specific ways leaders can develop their higher purpose: 1. Clarity of Mission 2. Clarity of Core Values 3. Relationships, integrity, community, environment. Now, as much as at any time, we need highly ethical leaders who are committed to the highest standards of moral integrity. We need leaders who are committed to a greater good beyond self-interest. The beautiful part? In so doing, such leaders will gain more joy and more fullfillment in the process.
4. Activation of potential. “Leadership is all about seeing. It’s all about what we can notice and bring out.” – David Cooperrider Humans have a deep longing to be seen, to be known, to be appreciated. Leaders who can see people’s potential, and help them discover and activate it, are needed in the world.
5. Creativity – lateral thinking, innovation, and adaptability. With AI and robots taking up more and more jobs, leaders of the future will need to be creative, innovative, and adaptive. The pace of change in society and business makes this a more necessary trait than ever before.
6. Integration – work/life wholeness. As mentioned previously, “work/life wholeness” is a better term than “work/life balance.” Leaders who can see people as fully human, and not just “cogs in the wheel” are necessary.
7. Communication Power. With the rise of globalization and remote work, the need for great communication abilities is more necessary now than ever. Peter Drucker believed that 60% of all management problems are the result of poor communication (8). Communication is always a challenge for leadership, but communicating remotely is different and in some ways much more challenging than communication when you are in the same location. The great leaders of the future are going to need to develop extraordinary communication abilities and utilize them as a superpower.
