The business ecosystem has changed greatly over the past few decades. Technology has brought us far, introducing new methods and innovations that have increased our productivity and efficiency throughout all business sectors. Despite all the wonderful new tech that is making our work faster and easier, most businesses find that the simplest way to solve problems remains the same; hiring good leaders.
There are as many definitions of leadership as there are leaders. In fact, each leader is unique, often having their own style and strategy, influenced by personality and the challenges faced in the leadership role. One leader might be the perfect fit for your company, while another would be incompatible with your work culture. Finding the right leader for the job is incredibly difficult, but it is a necessity to survive in today’s highly competitive market.
People look to leaders to guide them in their actions. Good leaders are role models for the people they lead, motivating them, supporting them and facilitating communications among them. In business, good leadership translates to long-term success with high morale and a high rate of employee retention.
Here are some examples of qualities that we expect from good leaders:
- Accountability
- Awareness
- Confidence
- Decisiveness
- Empathy
- Focus
- Honesty
- Inspiration
- Optimism
As you might already know, finding individuals that embody some of these qualities is hard enough, let alone all of them. Even then, businesses must take into consideration the personality, leadership style, and performance of the leader to ensure that they are the right fit for your work culture. Nothing can cause more dissent and disengagement faster than a leader that is despised by their employees. With all these issues arising, you can see why finding the right leader for the job is easier said than done.
Despite the difficulty in finding the right leader for the job, the benefits of getting it right are enormous. The leadership of effective and well trained leaders is paramount to providing an agreed upon goal for the company’s success. Leaders are invaluable when it comes to formulating and communicating new strategic directions, as well as communicating with and motivating employees to increase dedication to organisational goals.
The digital age has brought with it a new paradigm. Businesses and employees need to be fast, agile, and flexible to survive, especially for smaller firms such as SMEs. Most employees may struggle with the sudden change of direction that a company might take to adapt to this new paradigm.
This is normal. We humans are adaptable creatures, but we need time to compensate. Good leaders are able to stay the course, keep focused, and guide other employees throughout the process of change to ensure a smooth transition.
