Einstein famously said that ‘No problem has ever been solved by the same consciousness that created it.’ With all the amazing advancements in technology, digital, data, robotics…it’s easy to fall into the trap that ‘the machines’ will handle the challenges and the issues in our businesses, and we can lead and manage the way we always have. In a word, no. Unless…
you are the kind of leader who:
Knows that you are only as good as your team
Listens more than talks
Empowers more than ‘manages’ (micro, anyone?)
Allows failing as a powerful learning opportunity, rather than a cause for punishment
Addresses issues quickly, rather than letting them fester
Communicates, communicates, and communicates some more
Rinses and repeats these steps, regularly
Relationships are more important than ever. Tech means that the conversations you have with your customers are fewer – and thus more impactful than before. Equally, the conversations that you have with your teams have more creative impact than ever, as they direct the development of your processes through tech. You don’t need to ask your finance team for reports and analysis as often as before – it’s all at your fingertips. Yet, when there is deeper analysis to do, those conversations have much more importance than the traditional weekly financial spreadsheet discussion.
Change brings opportunity, excitement, development, and efficiencies. Change through digital/data/tech comes faster and literally takes on its own (AI) life. Change also brings chaos, uncertainty, and fear. Will my team be smaller? Will my role go away? Will I lose my job? What’s it going to look like? And then people just might gossip, protect turf, and resist that change - on steroids - in the digital economy.
To manage change in our exciting times, you will need high BQ – business intelligence, EQ – emotional intelligence, a degree of TQ – tech intelligence, and a total commitment to recognizing that these all continue to evolve – as must we all.
Sometimes you cannot hear, see or feel it for yourself when things are moving at such a rapid pace. Keeping your senses on alert is more important than ever. Building connection and trust is essential – always. Having those you trust to be eyes and ears for you – as well as to be able to help communicate the vision and the values with and for you – is a mark of great leadership. As the infamous Mr. Anonymous is reported to have said, ‘None of us is as smart as all of us!’
Contact us at US 800.262.0705/ UK 44 345 056 3383 or visit us at https://www.facebook.com/ThirdLevelInternational/
I’ve engaged Third Level with multiple teams over 12 years and we continue to generate exceptional business results. I see the program as my gift for all those who I’ve worked with and led. Without exception they feel much better about themselves and the world they live in – delivering more through improving satisfaction and engagement as leaders and teams.
I am a better leader, husband and father as a result of the work I do with Third Level.
Nick Williams Deputy Director, Group TransformationLloyds Banking Group
You managed to take a healthy, vibrant, and talented team to a new level of commitment to their careers, their lives and each other. Each member of our top management team has thanked me for the experience and related that this has been one of the best professional experiences of their lives. The outcome was clearly of great benefit to my businesses over the years. We identify issues that probably wouldn’t have surfaced for two years, saving ourselves at least five times our investment with you. And we are solving problems and confronting issues much more quickly. Our foundation of trust has grown quickly. More recently, the Fascination profile has helped us understand and collaborate far more quickly together as new teams form, and decision-making progresses.
Gary Press President,ARS and Chairman, Lifestyle Media Group