MODERN LEADERSHIP
is unable to create a vision for the
future. Staff become disengaged,
products become stale, business
slows down and profits decline;
churn through the day making small
adjustments and readjustments in
the hope that these small actions
will spark significant momentum in
a rapidly changing world — but of
course it is a mere blip. The result?
Beige companies fail to stop
their own decline. Examples are
everywhere from Atari as the leader
to retro-gamer to Blockbuster
no more – and as for waiting for
the processing of that “Kodak
moment’?Quite Simply, beige
leadership won’t cut it anymore. The
future needs leaders who are so
comfortable in the space that they
have the strength to lead and share,
to learn and grow, who are actively
curious and willing to give.
These leaders are capable of
amplifying others; they build a
culture that encourages and enables
sharing, a culture of commercial
collaboration that drives change and
innovation. These leaders create
the space and freedom to think,
debate and ideate. This is a culture
in which people from diverse skill
bases, demographics, genders and
industries have the opportunity to
speak and be heard.
Boston Consulting Group states that
organisations must today shift their
business model and leadership skills
to become more adaptive, to be
better, faster and more economical
than their competitors.
The leaders of the future are the
ones that are authentic, see the value
in collaborative working and create
the space and freedom to ideate
regardless of gender, race, age or
52 ModernBusiness
May 2016
seniority. They are agile, actiondriven and results-oriented. They are
focused and directional — strong in
commitment and decisive in vision.
We live in a roaringly fast paced
world. The people and businesses
that will ultimately succeed will
be the ones that are capable of
evolution and innovation. They will
keep their eye on the ultimate goal
and be willing to change their dance
as required to get there.
The leader of the future, the leader in
the collaborative ‘We” space, has to:
• be restless, curious and open to
opportunity; evolve and try new
things; be looking out for ‘what’s
next’ at all times
• combine emotional intelligence
with economic intelligence
• balance care for human capital as
much as financial capital
• balance quick thinking and
decision-making and yet be flexible
and open to change
• be agile and keep up with the speed
of change
• understand almost perfect is
perfect, since the speed of change
will make it impossible to get
everything right the first time
• have a willingness to not get
perfection immediately but to allow
perfection to evolve
• collaborate more and be less
mindful of hierarchy and position
• be willing to share, mentor others,
guide and take a step back
• take an honest and open approach
• create leaders in others and
leadership around them
• have a self-belief and inner
confidence, an ability to trust
themselves and the value they bring
to the table.
One thing is certain — beige won’t
cut it anymore.
Janine Garner is the Founder and CEO
of LBDGroup and works with senior
leaders to build high performing teams.
She is also the author of From Me To
We – Why commercial collaboration
will future-proof business, leaders and
personal success, published by Wiley.
For more information visit http://www.
janinegarner.com.au