A New Leadership Renaissance

A Unique Global Era

The pandemic, economic uncertainty, political polarization, wars, environmental challenges and the societal uprise against socioeconomic and racial disparities have ushered in a radical new era of global change.?

It is interesting that none of these challenges are new to us, in fact, they have always been present in one shape or form since the beginning of our civilization. What has changed, is the unprecedented speed of impact that these events have had on our society and the compounding effects that these challenges offer due to the acceleration of technology and access to information. This compounding effect has not only accelerated the disruption of our daily lives but has also upended global economies and exacerbated existing gaps within our society.

Information today is created, posted and shared within seconds, and as leaders, we must be ready and able to make critical, real-time decisions to lead our organizations through an overwhelming influx of data and alternatives - Sifting through what are temporary trends? short-term needs? What is the new normal? And most importantly, what is here to stay (at least for the next couple of years)? Creating, capturing and delivering value in today’s environment has become increasingly complex, and we have seen the impact on our organizations through high burnout, low engagement and performance, high attrition, great resignations, great layoffs, quiet quitting, etc.

Aligning Leadership with The World of Today and of Tomorrow

Technology will only continue to accelerate and create new opportunities for change as processing power, AI and machine learning capabilities advance. This will also exponentially increase the speed of impact on leaders and organizations in the future. We know through history and experience, that being passive in times of change will not guarantee success, especially in a world where consumer demands are rapidly evolving and becoming harder to understand each day. We also know that shifting and pivoting our organizations constantly to try to anticipate or meet the demands of change is not sustainable (or strategic).?

There comes a time where the external factors of change can no longer be ignored, and we must completely re-think and re-imagine what leadership means in today’s digitally driven world. What are the traits, behaviors, competencies, values, capabilities and strengths needed for us to continue to effectively grow and lead towards the future? How do we prepare and develop our leaders to anticipate change and transition from being reactive bystanders, victims of change and evolution, to becoming leaders who are creating the future? How do leaders once they have the vision and roadmap for the future, bring their entire organization along with them? And how can leaders learn to prioritize what matters most in the future today?

These among many others, are some of the big questions that leaders all around the world are asking. The answers aren’t simple, but given scientific advances in social cognitive neuroscience, psychology, leadership development and organization development, we are better prepared today to address some of these big questions and better able to align leaders and leadership with the world of today and of tomorrow – ushering in a new Leadership Renaissance.

Advancing Leadership for Today and for Tomorrow

At The University of California, Irvine – Paul Merage School of Business, we believe that world has been digitally transformed and continues to evolve daily, and that leadership also needs to advance in order to anticipate, drive and make meaning of today’s world. Considering that we are entering a new global era for leadership, the UCI Paul Merage School of Business launched an Institute dedicated to the research, development and application of leadership worldwide – especially as it relates to the future.

The Leadership Development Institute (LDI) believes that the future will require leaders that can: create clarity, build alignment and drive growth. Based on the three core elements, UCI’s Leadership Development Institute has developed a Future Proof Leadership Framework (FP3) to enable individuals, teams, and organizations to create sustainable value through understanding, developing and applying key science-based capabilities, competencies and strategies.

Future Proof Leadership Framework (FP3)

Clarity:?Awareness + Action

The ability to continuously understand the current & desired future state, the change, the data, the critical gaps, the landscape, internal and external needs. Increased ability to predict and reimagine the future

Alignment:?Engagement + Structure

The ability to?align internal and external resources, create new workflows and processes, find creative pathways to navigate and drive change, bringing internal and external stakeholders along with you towards the future

Growth:?Prioritization + Value

The ability to reimagine?ways to create, capture, and deliver value. Finding relevance and building for the future, and not just for today. Prioritizing and focusing on the results that matter most in the future today

The mission and vision of the Leadership Development Institute is to empower individuals and organizations through future proof leadership, enabling the sustainable growth of people and organizations, playing a significant global role in the advancement of the new Leadership Renaissance era.

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Your Perspective

We would love to hear your perspective on what Future Proof Leadership means to you? What are the leadership skills, competencies or capabilities needed for the Future? Please share your thoughts and insights in the comment section below.