Career Odyssey: What Are The Consequences of a Mislead

This month in Career Odyssey, we will get a detailed look on leadership within the frame of our age of disruption.

What It Takes to be A Thought Leader in Turbulent Times to Drive Organizational Change

It becomes like a hero’s journey when you try to lead people in these super-fast times surrounded with challenges like change, uncertainty, and technology; as well as rather classical challenges such as adversity, communication, and transparency.?

Leaders must be the role models within a team or company especially when change is on its way. If not, team members become lost and confused due to the unexpected winds of change; well, an employee should not be concerned with it anyway. That is why we have leaders, so that employees can focus on their daily tasks while the leader is taking care of the bigger picture.?

Let’s get ourselves 4 key-points and delve into the details of an ideal leader who acknowledges and nurtures people around them while letting them have their full potential achieved!??

Resilience

Imagine a leader panicking and screaming as the winds of change start flattening the old ways. Would you be able to follow them as your leader?

According to a study by Carmeli and Spreitzer (2009) published in the Journal of Management, resilience among leaders has been identified as a significant predictor of change success in organizations. The study found that leaders who exhibit high levels of resilience are more likely to overcome resistance, adapt to change, and drive positive outcomes, contributing to the overall success of change initiatives.

Adaptability

Great growth comes with great change, and an inability to adapt would lead to failure in growth. When a leader faces such a challenge, if they fail, those who follow them would fail without doubt.?

According to the research, by Tushman and O'Reilly (2007) published in the Strategic Management Journal, adaptability is a key determinant of organizational performance and competitive advantage. It was found that organizations with leaders who foster adaptability and innovation are more likely to thrive in dynamic and turbulent environments, leading to higher levels of performance and success.

Clarity and Purpose

As the word ‘leader’ is derived from ‘to lead’ it must be clear as a day that if a leader fails to convey a purpose with clarity, ones following their leader would be lost once again. They’d spread around every direction just like sheep without a shepherd.?

Studies on employee engagement highlight the importance of clarity and purposeful leadership in fostering a positive work environment and motivating employees. Research by Saks (2006) published in the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology suggests that leaders who provide clarity of direction and purpose create a sense of meaning and fulfillment for employees, leading to higher levels of engagement, commitment, and performance.

Trust

Trust must be one of the oldest virtues that is known to humanity. Even the military order necessitates trusting superiors so that the chain of command would function properly; but trust is never one-sided.?

A study (Mayer et al, 1995) published in the Academy of Management Review revealed that leaders who are perceived as trustworthy by their followers are more likely to be seen as effective leaders and are better able to influence and inspire others, especially during times of uncertainty and change.

So, when the leader loses the trust of the employee, the turbulent times will become a nightmare rather than a chance to improve and change.?

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