Leaders at all Levels

Based on their 2014 ‘global survey’ Deloitte (a consulting firm) concludes that ‘leadership’ is viewed as the highest priority issue amongst all executives, yet ‘most companies feel they are not meeting the challenge’ to develop leaders. This in “Leaders at all Levels: closing the gap between hype and readiness,” March 2014, A. Canwell, V. Dongrie, N. Neveras & H. Stockton. The report goes on to say that companies are ‘not equipping the leaders they are building with the critical capabilities and skills they need to succeed.’ With the environment demanding leadership agility, Deloitte’s research shows that particular leadership skills are in ‘high demand’.

Here’s the key leadership skills needed to succeed along with further considerations (‘et alors’):

Leaders at all Levels

‘21^st Century’ leadership skills that a company might look to develop in today’s market environment which ‘places a premium on speed, flexibility and the ability to lead in uncertain situations’ are:

·         Business acumen: Understanding the core business well

·         Collaboration: Having the ability to build cross-functional teams

·         Global cultural agility: Managing diversity and inclusion

·         Creativity: Driving innovation and entrepreneurship

·         Customer-centricity: Enhancing effective customer relationships

·         Influence and inspiration: Setting direction and driving employees to achieve business goals

·         Building teams and talent: Developing people and creating effective teams

Et alors

Many management writers have asserted that too many companies focus on the first point at the detriment to the rest. Such companies are likely to be organizations where even the word ‘leadership’ is rarely used or perhaps only assigned to those at the very top. Companies whose focus is management (rather than leadership) are likely to overlook the importance of engaging staff with such things as ‘inspiration’ and ‘talent development.’ Low staff engagement equals low performance; hence the assertion from Deloitte that developing leaders at all levels is of paramount importance for the company to succeed in the 21^st Century.

The report also mentions that instead of one ‘type’ of leader, a company might think to develop different types of leaders for different challenges. One company needed four leadership types: entrepreneurs to start up business; ‘scale leaders’ to build up business; efficiency leaders who reduce costs; and ‘fix-it’ leaders who ‘turn businesses around’. (It’s arguable that the fourth type is not needed if you get the first three correct…) Once leadership development is manifest at all levels in the organization, this is a further step the organization can put in place to not only engage staff but to become highly competitive. ‘Management’ companies beware!