The Must Have Future-Ready Leadership Skill

On the weekend, I was reflecting on a news article I read a few weeks ago, that said over 50% of the world will be going through political elections this year, and how that would impact the workplace.

We often think we can keep those discussions out of work, but sometimes these discussions, and others, do bubble over into our day-to-day interactions with others.?I believe the solution to this is something I call disruptive empathy.

Empathy is often seen as a soft, interpersonal skill, a nice-to-have attribute for leaders who want to create a positive work environment. It’s actually a hard skill.

Why is that?

Because it’s much easier to teach someone a technical skill such as how to create a plan, and much more difficult to teach someone how to lead a team from A to B – whether you have direct reports or not.

What if, instead, we view empathy as a disruptive force that challenges the status quo?

Disruptive empathy is about more than just understanding; it goes deeper to examine the power dynamics that marginalize certain voices and perspectives, and involves truly getting into the mind of the other person to foster deeper understanding.

Disruptive empathy requires leaders to confront their biases and beliefs, which can be uncomfortable and even threatening.

As leaders we have to do this, as it’s a key component to innovation thinking and creating change that matters.

Check out the podcast below for some strategies on this must have leadership skill and the Rolling Stone article for suggestions on how innovate in our world today – regardless of the work you do.

Organizational Leadership and the Future of Work

I was recently a guest on Calan Breckon 's podcast, where we talked about about organizational leadership and the future of work, including:

• How to harness the power of AI while staying true to your authentic voice.
• Insights on starting a business and avoiding common pitfalls.
• The importance of interpersonal skills like empathy and conflict resolution.
• How to effectively navigate change and guide teams through uncertainty.
• Practical tips on prioritization and creating a rhythm that boosts productivity.

Thanks again to Calan for having me on! I hope you'll check it out. Listen here.

3 Ways Creative Entrepreneurs Can Innovate in a Post-Pandemic World

I wrote this Rolling Stone article three years ago, and the strategies I shared in it are still relevant today! And no, you don't have to be an entrepreneur to make use of them!

Thanks for reading! I hope the above suggestions help you to lead and innovate through whatever waves of change you're faced with.