NextGen Leaders: What Will it Take to be a GREAT Leader of Tomorrow, Today?

To be a GREAT leader in the next generation of work, do you have to be nice?

There are all types of leaders who have, and will, leave their mark on history. Some use their power and ability for great things, and others abuse their power and destroy parts of our civilization. But one thing is true, you don’t have to be liked to be a GREAT leader, or even respected, despite all that you read these days on ‘Conscious Leadership.’ GREAT doesn’t always mean NICE.

Steve Jobs was not liked. In fact, he was impatient, intolerant, and abusive. He has been romanticized since his death, but regardless of his shortcomings, he has left an indelible mark on society in the name of progress and technology. Elon Musk is far from liked, yet he is changing the way we live with electric cars and spaceships to Mars. Are these good changes to society? Well that could be debated. But they are advancements for sure. These two men are important LEADERS in our history who have pushed society forward, but are they GREAT leaders?

Yes and no.

So much content on leadership is focused on “conscious leadership” which suggests a gentler hand, a caring ear, and an inclusive approach. When I searched for qualities of a great leader, the first article listed these 12 characteristics: self-awareness, respect, compassion, vision, communication, learning agility, collaboration, influence, integrity, courage, gratitude, and resilience. These sound like qualities of a nice and very successful person. However, these are not necessarily descriptors or realistic qualities of true change-makers.

So is it realistic to expect leaders to be self-aware and grateful to be a GREAT leader? If that were a test to pass, Elon Musk would have failed miserably. Does that mean no Tesla and no SpaceX? Many people worked for Steve Jobs and although they hated the interactions and felt belittled, he was a change-maker, and they knew it. People suffered through his personality for a reason?—?they knew they were part of something big.

A GREAT leader does GREAT things in the name of progress, innovation, goodwill, salvation, or the people (e.g. employees). Some will be nicer than others. But for those that are not so nice, if we believe they are visionary and pushing society forward, we will have to tolerate their poor bedside manner.

Certainly, not all GREAT leaders are the same. There is a vast list of Leadership styles. Just some are listed below…

Conscious Visionary: I was fortunate, at the start of my career, to work for a Conscious Visionary. He is perhaps the most elegant man I’ve come across professionally. He is diplomatic, and gracious, listens more than he speaks, gives great power to those with great potential, delivers indelible teaching moments, walks the walk rather than just talking the talk, and in general, is just a great human. But that is his authentic style. He doesn’t wake up in the morning trying to be a Conscious Visionary…he just is, and it seems effortless. In my opinion, this is the best kind of leader to be led by.

Unconscious Visionary: The alternative to the style above is a person with a great vision who is unstoppable, but might ruffle a heck of a lot of feathers along the way. Often Unconscious Visionaries are deeply talented but unaware of their impact. Examples of unconscious visionaries might include artists, inventors, or leaders who created groundbreaking work or movements without aiming to do so.?

Tyrant: I have worked for a dictator. There was no democracy?—?ever. It was ‘my way or the highway’ kind of leadership and as a result, a revolving door. Constant holes in the boat that I would have to continually plug, always worried the whole ship would sink. Was the pain worth society’s gain? Sadly no. The worst kind of leader is one who is motivated for their own greater good.

Leader of the People: Regardless of your politics, many would agree Barack Obama was a people’s leader. Through his grace, he was able to win the admiration of Americans on both sides of the aisle. Although politics divides, he didn’t see “red states and blue states.” A leader of the people is someone who sees THE PEOPLE as the number one asset to their vision and mission.

Career-Maker: My mentor, someone I met when I first began my career, is a Career-Making leader. She was the ultimate role model for excellence. Never a hair out of place, never late for a meeting, never an emotional outburst. A pure focus on setting an example for others and rewarding great employees with opportunities and career progression. She would work tirelessly to write pages and pages of performance reviews?—?to prioritize employee development. Her mission was simply to produce great people.

Crisis Leader: This is the person you want on your side when a really big problem occurs?—?a recession, a pandemic, a lay-off, a drop in share prices, a mass exodus, a PR crisis?—?the steady hand who can steer the ship back in a positive direction. Perhaps the most notable Crisis Leader was Winston Churchill. Churchill is celebrated for his leadership and resilience during one of the most tumultuous periods in modern history, combining inspirational communication, strategic vision, and resolute determination with a bit of adaptability and innovation.

So many more variations of leadership exist beyond those listed above. Each leader will always have a unique and nuanced approach. However, as we careen into the future at lightning speed, what qualities should leaders aim to cultivate to usher us into and through the next generation of work??

· Vision: The ability to look ahead, always.

· Conviction: Steadfast about their mission.

· Influence: The ability to reach people where they are.

· Context: The ability to connect their goals to the greater good.

· Agility: The ability to adapt (very) quickly.

· Creativity: Approaching all disruptions and challenges with a creative eye.

So, do we discard leaders who are GREAT but not NICE? Absolutely not. These leaders will naturally rise to prominence despite their poor bedside manner. However, traditional leaders must adapt to embody the qualities listed above, as we will rely on them to guide us into an unprecedented era of work.

Buckle up! The future is going to be a wild ride! ????

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