What are some of the skills and competencies that you need to develop as a leader in the digital age?

One thing for to be a better leader and manager is that I have to focus and work hard on having an agile mindset. It doesn’t come naturally for me, so I have constantly take assessments of where I am. In very few cases do I want to be too rigid with my thoughts because that will impact how I treat people. Don’t want to be soft with those thoughts either because I may not know where things are going. The secret is to be just right - like ??????????

Developing an agile mindset is essential for effective leadership. It involves embracing uncertainty, experimenting with new ideas, and adapting swiftly to change. As a leader, fostering this mindset means creating a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration within your team. Encouraging your team to take risks, learn from failures, and iterate quickly ensures that you remain resilient and flexible. This mindset drives performance and empowers individuals to thrive in an ever-changing environment.

"Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important." Stephen Covey. It's easy, under pressure (and we're all busy) to jump to solving the urgent needs. Pausing, taking stock of the situation, and thinking about the challenge/opportunity and outcomes allows us to look at why we need to achieve something and build in a little time for agility, or perhaps it's better thought of as creativity. Going further, some organisations build in a slack time that is designed to be there and available (as much as 30%) to achieve nothing other than thinking creatively and not needing to be accounted for and lined to a specific task.

Broadening this out to advances in thinking as well as technology, the key is to not only know about new tools but also be among the first to learn how to use them. Let's consider this progression: Quill pen (12th - 18th century) Pencil (16th century) Chalk and slate (18th century) Typewriter (1868) Biro (1938) Word processor (late 1960s, software 1978) ChatGPT (2022) Being the first to understand how to use them gives any manager, their organisation and their team an advantage and improvements in productivity. Digital covers a lot of new stuff these days; not being literate isn't really an option.

In the digital age, digital literacy is a critical skill for leadership. It goes beyond knowing how to use digital tools; it's about understanding the trends, opportunities, and challenges that shape the digital landscape. As a leader, staying updated on emerging technologies and continuously learning new skills allows you to leverage these tools to drive innovation and enhance productivity. Embracing digital literacy empowers you to make informed decisions, foster collaboration, and inspire your team to navigate the evolving digital world effectively.

In the digital age, emotional intelligence is going to become an even more critical leadership skill, because you can't succeed at leadership if you're incapable of bringing out the best in those you lead. By Instilling more empathy in your leadership, you're not just aware of other people's feelings, but you have an active interest in the challenges and obstacles they face every day. And that awareness allows you to have a better understanding and perspective of their reality, from which you can inspire your employees to commit their best - their creativity, their ideas, their experiences - to the organization's vision. And that's a win-win for everyone.

Probably one of the most important skill you can have as a leader of people. You ability to connect beyond common pleasantries and really understand and appreciate your teammates and their impact to the organization is crucial to be an effective leader. Cursory interest with no real commitment is easy to spot and comes of as disingenuous. The most successful leaders and true inspirations are those genuine and authentic, emotionally intelligent people. They understand that in order to be successful as a team, your people come first. Their wellbeing beyond the desk and work is critical to their performance and commitment to the mission. If you’re extremely talented in your profession yet lack emotional intelligence, you limit yourself.

Even with the digital literacy mentioned above, one thing that won't change is that people are the true differentiators between most organisations and their competitors. This means great managers, who understand their teams and can motivate and develop them. This all starts with the managers themselves and building empathy with their peers, stakeholders and especially their direct reports. Luckily, we have a number of tools that can provide insight and support, such as Belbin, DISC and Myres Briggs. Blend this with coaching and feedback from everyone around you and Emotional Intelligence will follow.

Leading in the digital age requires emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage emotions to foster strong relationships and drive meaningful impact. A leader with high emotional intelligence inspires trust, encourages collaboration, and builds an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives thrive. By cultivating self-awareness, empathy, and adaptability, you empower individuals to perform at their best, creating a workplace that values connection, resilience, and continuous growth.

Have a vision, but be prepared to adapt and adjust, the further out your vision stretches (12-24-36 months), the more blurred the endpoint, especially in our VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) world. It's one thing to have a strategy and there are many books written on creating one, my favorite is Blue Ocean Strategy, but according to studies (Havard Business Review) 60–90% of strategic plans never fully launch. So once you've understood the opportunity, ensure you have the capability/capacity to deliver on the strategy. What could possibly go wrong? It's an overused phrase, but communication is key, and once you've communicated it (often), it's down to the skills of your managers to make it happen.

Strategic thinking is essential for leadership in the digital age. It lets you see the big picture, set clear priorities, and align actions with vision and values. A strategic leader anticipates change, adapts to market shifts, and ensures teams focus on what truly drives success. When you analyze data, seek diverse perspectives, and make informed decisions, you create a culture of innovation and resilience, empowering individuals to contribute positively to a dynamic and high-performing environment.

Embracing a growth mindset as a leader in the digital age is crucial for continuous learning and improvement. Seeing challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles fosters innovation and resilience. An executive who views setbacks as learning experiences and encourages experimentation, showcases a growth mindset Celebrating achievements, both personal and collective, boosts morale and motivation Setting SMART goals helps leaders stay focused and track progress towards their vision. A project manager who establishes specific, measurable objectives for digital transformation initiatives ensures alignment and accountability within the team Recognizing potential and progress in oneself and others promotes self-confidence and empowerment.

Take it one step further..you need to play the infinite game as Simon Sinek eloquently writes about in his recent book. A growth mindset is critical to continual improvement, progress, and performance. In order to remain competitive and relevant in the digital age, growth comes at you quickly and the mindset should be continually focused on the infinite game and not on terminal goals and achievements. Constantly consider what is next, how can we improve, what do we do to achieve the subsequent milestone with the next battle always in sight.

Here's a simple technique for getting useful feedback. Don't just ask for feedback on how you could be better/improve or what you don't do well enough, you may not get the best input. It varies by culture, but generally, people are polite and don't want to offend or don't have the skills to give feedback in a constructive way. Ask how they would rate you as a manager out of ten. People will rarely say 10 so then all you have to do is ask what you need to do to get to a 10, this gives them permission to give you feedback on the things to improve.

Growth mindset, combined with a "can do attitude" is critical digital or not. If you want to learn and grow, see new things as a challenge, or as something to take on, then you have the right approach to change, and development.

A growth mindset is a key trait for leadership in the digital age. It drives continuous learning, resilience, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities. Leaders who embrace growth inspire teams to innovate, adapt, and push beyond limits. Confidence and optimism fuel this journey, fostering a culture where achievements are celebrated and potential is maximized. By setting goals, seeking feedback, and embracing challenges, you create an environment where individuals and teams thrive, delivering world-class performance.

Leaders in the digital age must be dynamic, open to learning, and capable of guiding their teams through the complexities of a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Here are other things to consider: - Develop skills for leading remote and virtual teams. Utilize digital collaboration tools to enhance team productivity. - Continuous Learning: Stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies. - Evaluate and manage digital risks associated with technology implementations. - Understand and manage emotions, both personal and within the team. - Embrace agile methodologies to enhance responsiveness and adaptability. - Understand the importance of cybersecurity and promote a culture of security within the organization.