For the future of leadership hierarchy is over-rated

A shift away from hierarchical authority and the cultivating of diverse perspectives, experiences and thinking are two of the key skills needed for future leadership according to Ravin Jesusthusan in a recent HRM article.

These ideas echo material that I’m teaching in a variety of courses at the moment and, more importantly, the conversations we are having in the classroom. And they require significant shifts in mindset away from the traditional view of leading and following that we can assume is natural.

Jesusthusan points out that “all of this is a reversal of about 140 years of learned behaviour on the part of leaders…” True, but everything about the ways we work is made up (by humans) so can be changed if we want. Plus I am fortunate to live in a country that is home to the longest living, continuous culture on earth - 60,000+ years of it. More than 60,000 years of people figuring out how to interact well with each other… in that context 140 years and the modern workplace is a blink of an eye!

Taking a followership perspective helps challenge the way we often work in ways that support the shifts future leadership needs. Rather than a top-down “leader knows best” perspective, we can understand leadership arising out of leading and following interactions between people. It is more about relationships and behaviours than organisational structures. Leadership is fluid with both parties leading, and following in turn, as is useful to achieve common goals. Leadership and followership is mutually influential and respectful. Followers are active with agency and responsibility to contribute to leadership.

I regularly blog about #followership and #leadership. You can sign up to get emails each time there's something new. Follow the link https://ruthsims.substack.com/