The Evolving Leadership Goals - Bracing The Organization

In the current contemporary times, the impact of AI and technological advancements has and will significantly transform the way we work and operate at a global level. As a result, leadership goals across various levels of the organization needs to evolve and adapt to these changes fast and quickly.

I think we have crossed over the times when we used to refer to the age old systems to run the processes and controls through a defined structure.

This includes people, processes and products - all will have to be now running into efficiency zones.

The current evolving leadership goals are dynamic in nature and they have to be seen, briefed and adopted in the same fashion.

Here are some examples of how key leadership goals in contemporary times need to be addressed sooner than later. These will hold good for both early stage companies like startups and to growth stage bigger, structured organisations-

Foster Firey Innovation and Creativity:

• You are a dead organization whether a startup or an enterprise if you do not understand this a bit fast. Leadership at all levels must encourage and foster an environment of innovation and creativity. This involves embracing new technologies such as AI and machine learning, as well as developing new and creative ways of solving problems.
• For example, a company might encourage employees to develop new products or services using AI and machine learning to streamline operations, improve customer experience, or gain a competitive edge. If you are not breeding entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial culture basically you are building a rat ship. Sorry but you cannot evolve with a fixed mindset and no innovation feeling across the desks.
• Your company should have an internal incubation hub culture to foster that entrepreneurial mindset. This goes top down and not the other way around.

Embrace Quick Change and Agility:

• All across the board the leadership must embrace change and be agile in responding to emerging technologies, changing customer needs, and evolving business models. You cannot just sit and brood that you still have the best product or services from 10 years and sit over it like a 100 pound gorilla.
• This means being flexible and open-minded, and willing to pivot when necessary. For instance, a company might use AI to track customer behaviour and adjust its products or services in real-time based on customer preferences.
• It also means investing into training the way you invest into marketing or sales teams. Get people above the curve.

Cultivate a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace:

• Leadership must work to create a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaboration, creativity, and innovation. This includes embracing diversity in all its forms, such as gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation.
• For example, a company might use AI to eliminate bias in the hiring process and to identify and address unconscious bias in the workplace through the ATS itself.
• This is often read in books and hardly many organisations follow but it is high time the is really addressed as a culture from top down not to just impress their board and investors but as a cultural shift.
• Show what you mean.

Build a Strong Digital Presence, PR and POV:

• Most neglected by most organisations specially at the top and they consider these facts as the least effective in the chain however the progressive leaders invest on these items aggressively with a keen sense of brand building, creating a POV and expanding the thought process.
• Leadership must build a strong digital presence to stay relevant and competitive in today's global economy. This means investing in digital marketing, social media, and other online channels to connect with customers and stakeholders.
• For example, a company might use AI to analyse customer data and create personalised marketing campaigns that target specific demographics and can keep the drips and irrigate the prospects in a conducive way to get optimum results.
• Be competent to understand this change and adoption.

Foster a More "Cool" Learning Culture:

• Leadership must foster a culture of continuous learning to keep up with the rapid pace of technological change. This means investing in employee training and development, encouraging ongoing education, and embracing new technologies.
• The training should not be forced but adopted by the functional heads like food for body, this will act as a the soul to the functional prowess.
• For instance, a company might use AI-powered chatbots to provide employees with personalised learning experiences based on their individual needs and interests. The tech team and the marketing team should ensure the internal stakeholders are groomed with the LMS appropriately with all advancements and DIY material.

Hiring and Grooming For Competency

• This is last not the least among the above items. The key goal of the leadership teams across segments and functions top down should be building human capital for competency and not for latency with any pedigree whatsoever.
• You might get a best place to work tag or the best cultural tab but if the business is hit and innovation has gone for a toss and you are not transformed the way the world is looking you are preparing the titanic for better words.
• Avoid sycophants at all levels.

Overall, leadership at all levels of the organization must be willing to become more agile, innovative, and adaptable to thrive in today's rapidly changing business landscape and they have to be prepared doing that for the next 10 years at at least.

What do you think ?

What has been your experience ?

Do share your thoughts and agree to disagree in the comments below.

#leadership #leadershipfirst #humanresources #HRTech #hrms #hiring #recruitment #founders #startups #entrepreneurs #enterprises