Four New Rules of Leadership for 2021
By: Sara Emhof
Tags: Corporate Culture, Leadership, Employee Engagement

COVID catapulted us into a new era. This new era is still based on services and human capital but demands new structures for education, religion, the work force, and government. This means major shifts for leadership too.

In the industrial era, hierarchical leadership worked. There were clear roles and you showed up to work, followed instructions, punched out and got paid. The leadership determined the needs of the workforce and the labor carried it out. Innovation and policy making were left in the hands of leaders. Teachers were considered experts and students were receivers of information. Religious leaders were considered all knowing and members of the congregation trusted them without question.

Social media and smartphones have been busting many of our norms since they became mainstream and accessible to a majority of people. Leaders have been put under the microscope and as a result, our trust in them has taken a major hit. Secondly, the internet democratized information. We all have access to the same information, so in some ways we no longer rely on teachers, politicians, our CEO, or our pastor or rabbi, to filter information. We find it ourselves.

And then 2020 came along and brought a worldwide pandemic. This pandemic was a forceful reminder of how interconnected and equally human we are and demanded that we start leading in a way that embraces this interconnectedness and equity or risk destruction.

Our leaders will determine the trajectory of this shift and here are the new rules of leadership:

1) Drop Your Control Issues! — Thriving organizations have leaders who know how to empower their employees and are not threatened by not being in control. Working remotely requires employees who feel trusted and confident in managing themselves. Leaders trained in the art of empowerment, see employees not as people to be “managed” but as assets who are fully capable and necessary to the success of the whole. In other words, micromanagers are your biggest threat to productivity and a happy workforce.

2) Creative Leadership is Winning- This is an era of rapid change and leaders who are flexible, embrace diversity of thought, and are open to “outside the box” thinking, are winning. Look at the companies making successful pivots. They are led by individuals who see change as an opportunity to grow, not a threat.

3) Be Transparent or Die- Transparency builds trust. Leaders who admit they do not know everything or share the challenges the organization is facing, remind employees that their ideas, flexibility, and hard work are part of the success of the organization. Lack of transparency creates the conditions for anxiety, competition between colleagues and lack of innovation. These are all threats to your survival.

4) Your Mental Health is Your Biggest Asset- Leadership is extremely challenging and some are put in leadership roles before they are ready. Every leader should be investing in a healthy mindset. Mental health issues that should have been addressed have led to too many leaders doing corrupt, hurtful, and selfish things. And, in less extreme cases, they lead to employee turnover, decreased engagement and poor customer service. Additionally, to create a truly inclusive and healthy culture for your employees, you need to acknowledge your own bias, fears, and needs. By taking your mental health seriously, you give those you lead permission to do the same.

This is an exciting time to be alive. New rules are being written and decisions made in this decade will determine long-term solutions for generations to come. If you are a leader looking to thrive and help your team thrive in this changing landscape, I’d love to hear from you.