What Makes a Good Digital Leader?

"In today’s era of volatility, there is no other way but to re-invent. The only sustainable advantage you can have over others is agility, that’s it."

- Frank D’Souza, Cognizant CEO

Digital leadership is one of the most progressive things that has occurred in business and in particular, the digitization of the marketing industry highlights it. It has even transcended into the educational sector, where new technologies transformed the way students today learn.

However, being a digital leader takes more than just technical know-how that you learn from seminars and training. There are certain qualities that you need to acquire before you can be an effective digital leader.

Be A Digital Leader

To be a digital leader is to have a positive and bold attitude and approach to problems that could influence business systems. 

Digital leaders involve their team; they don’t sit up high on their horses. They humbly work with their team, so that solutions have the most valuable input possible. It isn’t enough to be an entrepreneur, small business owner, or corporate manager you have to be a leader of talent and in the digital world, that means digital leader.

Change Agent

Digital leaders also carry in them that inexplicable passion for change. Their energy and spirit aren’t dampened by the common issues and challenges in the workplace. Instead, evaluate options and positively channel everyone’s energy to be more innovative and creative.

Vision

Digital leaders have a clear vision of what they want for their company. They instantly understand that the old ways may not work anymore and that perhaps the time has come to try a new way of doing things. Such a mentality of inspires everyone at work to be just as passionate, dedicated, and unafraid of change.

If a new technology is introduced to the market, digital leaders are quick to pounce on it, not because it’s the trend, but because they intuitively know it may help their company move an inch in the competition. They jump on every opportunity to study this new technology and help the rest of the team understand how it works, too.

Make no mistake, because someone is called a leader doesn’t mean she is “digital.” A true leader in these times is one who creates or fosters a culture of technology in the workplace and helps people grow and build their skills. They see transformation as opportunities for growth and development as a path to a brighter future for their company.

Click Here for a FREE Copy of

“13 Tips For Success In Your Small Business Or Internet Business”

Virtual Collaboration

This means they allow their teams to be constructively disruptive. There is simply no space in the workplace for the status quo and obsolete. For example, leadership should commit to offering flexible and in some cases, a virtual working environment.  

The use of collaboration technologies is enabling people to have more input where and how they work while providing the productivity the business requires for meeting its goals. The leadership team, including CIOs, must set a positive example around work-life balance as opposed to a “work till you drop” environment.

Taking Risks

Curiously, true digital leaders are comfortable with ambiguity and risk-taking while others, even though they have an entrepreneurial bent are not. They are willing to try new things, but at the same time, they aren’t afraid to admit that specific technology is unfamiliar to them. This is the whole point of studying and sharing what they have learned to their team. They can gamble, take risks, and make mistakes. They look to challenge both their own as well as other’s outdated ideas and operations. 

Even better, digital leaders find meaningful insights into their mistakes and experiments. They acknowledge the fact that the business scene fluctuates, and they can’t just be complacent and confident. They know that it’s their responsibility to keep the company at a minimum on par, if not exceed, the performance of their competitors.  

If they don’t keep up with the times, their customers will disappear one by one, and look to their competitors to get faster and more convenient service. If anything, digital leaders never lose sight of opportunities to improve their company and the people that comprise it.

About The Author

Professor Theodore Henderson is an Author-Coach-Trainer, working with entrepreneurs, small businesses, and executives for business and leadership success. Click for info.