The world of business is really tough these days. It is not calm and peaceful like it used to be. Modern business is actually very unpredictable. Things can change quickly. This is because of changes happening around the world new technologies coming out all the time, and people wanting different things from their jobs.
In this kind of world, the traditional way of leading a company no longer works. The traditional leadership model is no longer good enough. It was designed for a time when things were simpler and did not change fast. Now modern business is all about dealing with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. The traditional leadership model is basically useless now. It is. Cannot handle the challenges of modern business.
As the CEO, my main job is to have a vision. This is not a catchy phrase or a theme that we use for one year. The vision is an idea of where the company is going and why it is important that we get there. When things are changing fast the vision helps keep us on track and makes sure we do not get off course. It is like a guide that helps us make decisions. The vision is what helps us stay focused, on what matters.
Audacity — The Why
The vision of our organization must be really bold so that people are committed to it not just doing what they are told. If we aim too low people will not put in the effort that we need. Our vision must explain what makes our organization special and why we should keep existing not to make money in the short term but to make a real difference in the world. The vision of our organization is what will drive us to do things and it must be clear, about the unique value that our organization creates.
Clarity — The Where
If the vision of the company cannot be clearly understood and repeated by every employee the vision of the company will not be executed. When things are too complicated people do things. Every individual who works for the company no matter what their job is or where they are located must know what the vision of the company is and how their own work helps the company get to where it wants to go with the vision of the company.
Resilience — The How
Our vision needs to be based on what people need and what is actually happening in the market not on things like technology that can change quickly or products that will not be around forever. Technology is always changing. Platforms will eventually disappear. What is important is that we have a purpose that stays the same. We should be known for solving problems that have been around for a time not, for the tools we are using right now.
My expectation of leaders is very clear: they should always talk about the vision. Leaders should make sure that what people do every day is connected to the goal. When things do not go as planned.. They will not. Our people should not stop. They should change what they are doing. Still keep working towards the mission. The leaders should communicate the vision of the company all the time. The daily work should be tied to what the company wants to achieve in the run. Our people must know what to do when things change suddenly. They must be able to change what they are doing and still move forward with the mission of the company.
Decentralized Decision-Making
Leadership should not get in the way. People need to make decisions that’re close to the customer and the information they have. This means we have to trust each other have rules to follow and be responsible for what we do. When we try to control everything it slows down the company.. When we give people the power to make their own decisions the company can move a lot faster. Leadership and empowerment are really important for this to work.
Psychological Safety as a Performance Requirement
Speed is really important. It depends on how much we trust each other. When teams are scared of getting in trouble they will not make a move. That can be very bad. It is okay to make mistakes if we are trying to learn from them. We have to be honest with each other that is the way it will work. Not saying anything is not an option. Speed depends on trust. We need to be able to talk about our mistakes and learn from them. Leading the Human Equation of Transformation
