Character, Service, Wisdom. Are These the New Pillars of Future Leadership?

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” This saying, which you might have heard in passing, really nails what being a leader is all about. It’s not a fancy title or a corner office that makes a leader. It’s the genuine care, guidance, and support they offer to their team.

In our world today, which changes quicker than a New York minute, the need for leaders who aren’t just good but outstanding is at an all-time high. We’re not just dealing with the usual ups and downs?– we’re on a roller coaster of new challenges and opportunities.?

This ‘whirlwind’ of change calls for leaders who are quick on their feet, with a heart for their team and an eye on the future. This in-depth and sophisticated article is a handy guide diving into the three indisputable pillars of leadership: character, service, and wisdom. Think of them as the ‘secret ingredients’ in the recipe for future-proof leadership. Because it’s about embracing a style of leadership that’s as dynamic (and nuanced) as our world today.

The Essence of Social Practice Wisdom in Leadership

The Cambridge Handbook of Wisdom, and its focus on what it calls “Social Practice Wisdom,” shares important knowledge about what makes a leader wise. This idea goes beyond what we usually think of as wisdom. It’s about taking actions that are ethical and morally right. Being a leader like this means deeply connecting your actions with moral values and having the bravery to do what’s right.

Having qualities such as humility, courage, self-control, and generosity isn’t just nice to have. They are essential for leaders to make smart and fair decisions. These qualities help leaders deal with complicated situations clearly and honestly. They also make sure that decisions are effective, morally right, and good for society. In this light, the encouragement of ideas from everyone, like in successful tech companies, is important. It shows how valuable it is to create a work environment where everyone feels important and listened to. This leads to more creativity and growth. This way of leading, which the article supports, is about building leaders who not only meet business targets but also care about their team’s happiness and growth.

Thinking ‘Long-Term’ in Leadership

Leadership often involves deciding between quick, immediate benefits and those that last over time. In a world that frequently celebrates ‘quick wins,’ a significant challenge for leaders is to focus on what’s actually important: long-term objectives!

The most effective leaders are those who act with the future in mind… that make choices that benefit society over time — inspired by sound judgment and foresight.?

This is the core of forward-thinking leadership, demonstrated by innovative companies like Uber and Airbnb, who succeeded in meeting future market demands and challenges.

This kind of leadership necessitates a mindset that values future outcomes more than short-term, and more temporary, wins. When it’s all said and done, it’s about having a vision that extends beyond today, figuring out the impact of current decisions on future generations.?

Leaders with this perspective follow the idea of aiming for broader goals and not just immediate plans. This is a strategy used by successful tech leaders at Amazon. They stay unaffected by fleeting trends or quick successes, instead focusing on lasting values and the continued well-being of the communities they serve.

Nominate today (it's free) in the 2024 Outstanding Leadership Awards - they are life changing!

Traversing Through Complexities with Wisdom

The business sphere today is undoubtedly complex and dynamic. In such a landscape, leaders who are able to handle uncertainty and embrace new ideas play a vital role in the growth – and rapid-progress – of their organisations.?

These abilities are key to making sound decisions – especially in unclear situations. Leaders are now facing challenges like fast-paced technological growth (particularly with developing AI) and major shifts in the global economy, prompting them to be more flexible and resilient.?

These qualities are extremely necessary and highlighted by the ongoing innovation and willingness to take risks, seen in companies like Microsoft (cleverly investing in innovation using established products to fund exploration in new areas).

Therefore, staying calm in uncertain times and making decisions based on comprehensive research – and experience-backed data –?is extremely critical for a leader. This involves looking beyond traditional methods and past experiences and being open to different viewpoints and information. By adopting this approach, leaders can deal with complex issues more effectively and guarantee their decisions to be both innovative and practical. Similar to the user-centred design thinking used by major tech firms. This style of leadership balances creativity with a highly overlooked aspect of growth: calculated and data-backed planning.

Overcoming Regulatory Limitations

It’s interesting to note that the growing number of rules and regulations can make it tough to make smart decisions. Good leaders need to work within these rules and make sure their choices show wisdom and not just follow the rules for the sake of it.

The real challenge is to find the perfect balance (the ‘sweet spot’) between sticking to these rules and having enough flexibility to make wise decisions. Leaders need to understand and apply these rules in a way that fits with their organisation’s main goals and values. This often means they have to be creative and forward-thinking and really understand the reasons behind these regulations.?

Also, taking them into account, leaders can ensure their actions are legal, ethical, and beneficial for the long-term success of their organisations – and the people involved.?

This approach is similar to the pioneering spirit emphasised by leaders like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, who advocates for patient experimentation and customer delight, balancing innovation with adherence to standards.

Essential Qualities and Experiences for Effective Leadership

Leadership blends innate qualities, personal experiences, and individual character. The debate about whether leaders are naturally born or developed focuses on essential qualities for leadership — such as curiosity, initiative, and active involvement.

These inherent traits form the foundation of a leader’s potential.?

Curiosity – Drives leaders to seek knowledge and understanding.?

Initiative?– Encourages them to act and make impactful decisions.?

Active involvement – Ensures they are fully engaged in their leadership roles.?

However, life experiences play a vital role in shaping and enhancing these natural abilities, improving a leader’s competence in managing complex aspects of their position. This growth is similar to the practice in IT companies of fostering ideas from every level, enabling leaders to maximise their potential (and learn valuable lessons from their experiences).

The Crucible of Experience

Life’s varied experiences – its highs and lows – act as a vital tool in refining natural traits into effective leadership skills – much like the common analogy of how steel becomes stronger under intense conditions.?

Leaders evolve through each experience, learning from both successes and failures. Triumphs teach resilience and humility, whilst failures offer valuable insights for improvement and personal development.?

This blend and well-need combination of experiences mould a leader who can handle diverse challenges with calmness and wisdom. This idea echoes the principle of using failure as a stepping stone for innovation, where leaders who learn from their setbacks promote a culture of ongoing improvement and creativity.

The Role of Character in Leadership

The cornerstone of effective leadership lies in character. Essential qualities such as honesty, reliability, humility, self-control, courage, and authenticity are more than just desirable. These attributes play a crucial role in a leader’s ability to inspire and guide their team. A leader’s character is key to earning respect and trust — which in turn encourages and develops loyalty and enthusiasm among team members.?

Hence, through the consistent display of these traits, leaders can genuinely connect with their team and create a supportive atmosphere that encourages teamwork and innovation.?

Additionally, strong character develops an ethical and transparent workplace, which is, of course, an essential aspect of good leadership. This underlines the value of trust in leadership, evident in successful businesses where trust is central to customer loyalty and team unity.

Personal Growth. A Leadership Imperative.

Leadership is not just a static skill?– it is an evolving process involving constant personal development and adaptation. It’s a lifelong commitment to learning and improving oneself.?

In this rapidly-changing process, leaders need to adapt to both external shifts and internal growth. Coaching is a crucial tool in this journey. It serves as both a reflective aid and a catalyst for personal development. Coaching aids leaders in identifying and refining their unique leadership styles. This allows them to lead with greater self-awareness and efficiency. It provides an opportunity for leaders to assess their strengths and weaknesses, confront their limitations, and devise strategies to fully utilize their distinct abilities.? This method is in line with the concepts of continual risk-taking and using failures as learning opportunities for innovation. It encourages leaders to consistently venture into new territories, learn from their experiences, and adjust their leadership approaches effectively.

Conclusion: Fostering Reflection and Engagement

This discussion is an invitation for you, the reader, to think about your own journey as a leader. It encourages you to look closely at the key parts of how you lead. Think about the roles of character, service, and wisdom in your leadership style. How does your personality affect the choices you make and your interactions with others? In what ways do you support your team and organisation, and how does this support strengthen your leadership??

Reflect on how wisdom directs your actions and how you make decisions. Join in the conversation, share your ideas, and let’s all contribute to the ongoing discussion about effective leadership for future leaders.?

About LeadershipHQ - How We Can Help?

LeadershipHQ Programs

Executive & Senior Leaders

Today’s organisations need leaders who can communicate a clear vision, set and execute strategy, and drive change through uncertainty. Our Executive and Senior Leader development programs increase self- awareness, accountability and performance while supercharging leader confidence and focus. Designed for senior and executive leaders responsible for business direction, culture and performance.

Emerging Leaders

Making the transition from team member to team leader is both exciting and daunting. Our programs give executives, future, first time and frontline leaders the knowledge, skills and practical tools they need to thrive. The focus is on personal growth, communicating with impact and motivating people to achieve.

Women in Leadership

The world needs more great female leaders. Designed to accelerate and elevate women’s development, our Women in Leadership programs are delivered over 6-12 months and address the unique challenges women face in their leadership journey. Through these programs, women develop the confidence, mindset and practical skills to lean into leadership.

Women in Leadership (OWL)

Study at your own pace, in your own place.?

The?Outstanding Women Leaders program is a personal and professional high-impact development journey?developed by Sonia McDonald who has more than 25 years experience in Leadership and Human Resources.?The Virtual Program offers you the flexibility you need to grow and develop as a leader, at a pace that fits with the demands of your life.

To support your journey, we combine expert online coaching plus networking with a community of like-minded women. The program includes?10?modules with a comprehensive toolkit, video presentations and masterclasses and visual?play sheets for each chapter.

LeadershipHQ Coaching

We coach individuals, leadership teams and groups, either to support self-development, as part of our leadership programs, or when a workplace conflict is unresolved.

Discover what drives and motivates you and leverage your strengths to improve personal and team performance and impact.

No matter where you are on your leadership journey, it’s never too early (or too late) to get a coach.

Cultural Transformation

Being stuck with a dysfunctional or wrong culture costs your business time, money and reputation. We’re here to help you shape the organisation and culture you want to enjoy.

We work with you to build or transform your current culture into one which is courageous, engaging and productive.

We implement strategies and workshops to design and implement vision, values, mission, and new leadership behaviours to create and nurture the organisational culture you need.

Assessments

We offer customised Pulse, Engagement, Cultural Assessments and Surveys and 360’s for YOUR Organisation, Leaders and Teams.

These tools are incredibly effective for performance management and improvement by gaining a well-rounded view of the attitudes, behaviour and performance in your organisation.

Online Self Paced Course

Looking to jump-start your leadership development?

LeadershipHQ’s Online Leadership Program is an online professional development program for emerging, first-time and frontline leaders, and professionals wanting to take their seat at the leadership table.

The program can be completed on its own or in conjunction with our facilitated programs and coaching. Work through the program at your own pace, in your own place.?

Making the transition from team member to team leader is both exciting and daunting. Our programs give executives, future, first time and frontline leaders the knowledge, skills and practical tools they need to thrive. The focus is on personal growth, communicating with impact and motivating people to achieve.

By?Sonia McDonald?– CEO of?LeadershipHQ?and?Outstanding Leadership Awards, Leadership Coach,?Global Keynote Speaker,?Entrepreneur, CEO, and?Award Winning Author.

Book Sonia today for your 2024 Event, Workshop or Conference!