The role of the investor in creating the “New Models of Leadership”

May 22, 2012 //
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An investor’s decision to financially support one business idea and not the other has a powerful amplification potential for the new leadership model.

By deciding to financially engaging in a business concept a “Seed Investor” or early stage “Venture Capitalist” obviously also supports the entrepreneur behind the business idea. And by supporting the entrepreneur the investor of course also supports the leadership style and philosophy that this entrepreneur embodies.

And this works both ways.

  • Financially supporting an entrepreneur who is striving to create a culture of empathy and respect, who uses feedback and collaboration to establish a “safe space” for all those around and who showcases the benefits of the “We” over the “I” will undoubtedly set a signal in the market in which the investor operates.
  • Investing in an entrepreneur on the other hand who embodies a more rigid, command and control approach to leadership and who shows little interest in building self awareness around the impact his own behaviours have on others might still yield financial benefits. But this investment decision will fall short of its potential to amplify the societal benefits of the new models of leadership
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The role of the Entrepreneur in creating the “New Models of Leadership”

May 12, 2012 //
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When starting a new venture the entrepreneur will be asking him or herself a number of key questions like:

  • What would potential candidates be attracted by when considering to come and work for this organization?
  • What type of structure would be most suitable for this organization in order to become resilient and flexible (hierarchical, circular, other)?
  • What kind of organizational culture do I want to create and build?
  • What leadership role do I want to play?
Finding the right answers to these questions will be critical for the long term success of the venture.
 
On a personal level the entrepreneur will want to recognize that ambiguity, uncertainty and complexity are a constant – a permanent factor impacting any business question. Fighting their existance will not prove useful. Instead, the entrepreneur will want to acknowlede and accept the existance of own limitations and the fact that anxiety and vulnerability are elements of being a leader.
 
On an organizational level the entrepreneur might want to ensure that through own behaviour a culture of empathy and repect is created, built on feedback, fostering collaboration and producing a safe space for all that ultimatly helps to build a culture of innovation and not just a culture of high perormance.
 
In doing the above the entrepreneur will then be able to showcase to society the benefits of creating a sense of togetherness and putting the “We” over the “I”. This will also help the entrepreneur to differentiate the own organization from the competition because people will see that the human being is valued.

 

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The journey to more awareness and mindfulness

March 25, 2012 //
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Under the right conditions, training can play a catalytic role in creating a higher level of awareness and mindfulness, two of the key drivers of the new model of leadership. If done in a toughtful manner taining can  then also serve as the vehicle to explore the notion of togetherness and universal interdependence. The only qustion is:”How can trainers strike a balance between spirituality and reality, how can they merge the concept of being and doing and how should they unite feeling and thinking in a world that seems to dominated by IQ ?

 

Obviously, trainers will not want to disengage or otherwise put off their workshop-participants by enforcing a discussion around what some participants might interpret as spirituality, or even as religion. While it is definitely necessary to explain that the journey to more awareness and mindfulness must push existing boundaries maybe even into previously unknown territory, it will be important to use a suggestive and didactical rather than a dictatorial or categorical approach.

 

Equally, when trainers turn to the importance of allowing room to “be” rather than just to “do” they will need to be aware of the potential unease that this notion might creat in some.  The future directed character of our society leaves little time to reflect and little room to live in the now. Some individuals will need time to absorb this concept or otherwise push back if they feel pressured. 

 

Finally, trainers must use particular care when it comes to incorporating the dimension of “feeling” into the catalog of enablers for awareness and mindfulness. Undoubtedly, feeling one’s own self, one’s passion, purpose and true potential has to become an integral part of leadership. But trainers should not forget that some individuals will view the request to “feel” to be in direct oposition to today’s brain and intellect dominated approach.

 

The true genious of the trainer will lie in the ability to unite the various dimensions in a gentile way, so that the individual participant voluntarily embarks on the journey to a higher state of awareness and mindfulness.

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Creating Awareness: The role of Education (3)

March 15, 2012 //
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Learning in the business: Finally, as employers are increasing their demand for candidates with a collective mindset a proven track record of collaborating across boundaries, they need to work with the human resources at hand. Within the context of creating a culture of authenticity and fluidity, organizations will need to enhance their learning and development and performance management approach. While providing out-of-comfort-zone development opportunities and social goals to potential leaders they will need to measure more actively and consistently the person’s mindfulness with regards to resources, be it natural, financial or human. The potential leader’s ability to exhibit behaviour supporting the collective will have to be added to the criteria triggering the individual’s career advancement.

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Categories Leadership, Mindful Leadership, Out-of-comfort-zone development opportunities, Self Awareness

Creating Awareness: The role of Education (2)

March 12, 2012 //
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Higher education will need to build on learnings previously provided by schools and focus on intellectual development as well as on the physical, psychological and emotional aspects. Cultural and personality traits and the understanding of psychometrics will need to become as much a permanent function of the learning curriculum as will be the case for the teaching of global interdependencies. The integration of humanities will complete the picture, no matter the core subject. The leadership curriculum in particular will need to be enhanced in the business realm e.g. by studying the business case behind social entrepreneurship; corporate social responsibility will have to become a standard elective. And real life project work should be structured and evaluated against the backdrop of their social and sustainable impact.

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Creating Awareness: The role of education

March 2, 2012 //
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A key role will be taken by parents and care givers and the acknowledgement that their behaviours and incentives will influence the child’s ability and willingness to be reflective, self-aware and mindful of others. In close cooperation with the schools parents will need to expose the child more systematically to a variety of learning opportunities tailored to nurture curiosity, agility and to deepen the child’s sense of collectivism and collaboration. While teachers need to be given the tools and techniques to navigate seamlessly between the emotional and the intellectual dimension, children will need to be given a chance to take an active role in their community, giving them first-hand experience of the benefits of collaborating with others.

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Changing Leadership Characteristics

January 16, 2012 //
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“Everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy

Quantum mechanics shows that we are all connected in a unified field – we are all cells in a larger organism – what affects one affects all (“oneness”).

Recent scientific evidence in the field of Neuroscience proves that our thoughts, movements and body language have a direct influence on others, consciously or not. With the discovery of mirror neurons, science can today demonstrate how we are connected to the world and more importantly to each other.

While this holds true for everybody, it is of particular relevance for leaders who need to be aware of this phenomenon when they are interacting with employees or other stakeholders. As a consequence, “Self Awareness”, reflection and acceptance of one’s own strengths, weaknesses and preferences must play a critical role in the leader’s path to acquiring the wisdom to lead.

This inner journey will produce an understanding that any given reality is seen through the lens of one’s prejudices and judgment. The challenge of the leader will be to overcome and leave behind these prejudices and judgments.

What other elements of the Changing Characteristics do you see ?

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Categories Leadership, Neuroscience, Quantum Mechanics, Self Awareness

What are the new models of Leadership ?

January 10, 2012 //
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Super wicked problems as well as the globalization are making our world increasingly interdependent – fluidity is the name of the game and uncertainty is guaranteed. New technologies are challenging the command-and-control systems and are supporting organic networks. Swarm intelligence and open sourcing platforms are beginning to allow a shift from “control at the centre” to “creativity at the periphery”. Demographic and societal shifts are creating a generational gap challenging the leader to motivate and inspire in new ways.

As a consequence we will be seeing a new leadership model emerge where the sustainable success of a leader will be subject to the leader’s ability to reflect, be mindfull and inclusive.

I would like to invite you to start a discussion on this blog about the new requirements of leadership as well as about how all of us can support the transition.

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