Something funny happens as we age and gain experience. Many of us expect the world to continue conforming to our view of things, which of course, it rarely does.
For those that stubbornly stick to the perspective that I’m right and everyone else is wrong, the world quickly spins away and they become leadership and management relics from a bygone era. For those that have the courage to recognize that they are the ones that need to change and keep pace, everyday is a true adventure.
I see this a great deal with experienced leaders that seem to reach a point where they no longer relate effectively to many of the people that they are supposed to be leading. This problem is particularly visible in the workplace today as the fascinating blending of the generations gains speed.
Ask ten baby boomer managers about their experiences dealing with the latest entrants into the workforce, and I’ll wager at least 6 will roll their eyes and then launch into a narrative filled with generalizations about work ethic, initiative, respect and so forth. What these diatribes tell me is that many managers have crossed-over to the side of the bridge where “they need to be more like me” thinking dominates.
The Leader as Explorer:
The macro-forces in our world, including changes brought on by globalization, the seemingly unending and accelerating march of technology and this constant sense of time-compression all are contributors to professional obsolescence. It’s hard work keeping current and it’s even harder work to constantly be processing on a world that is changing so fast that long-standing, tried and true rules no longer apply.
Yesterday’s leader provided guidance based on wisdom. In part, today’s leader guides exploration into the unknown.
Our fascination with innovative companies and our unceasing consumption of content and ideas on how to innovate are in-part, responses to the macro-forces that dominate our world. This need to understand how to help people and teams innovate shows that facilitating exploration is increasingly part of a leader’s role.
While I’m loathe to discount the value of wisdom, age and experience don’t give you the right or privilege to ignore the emerging realities of our world.
The Bottom-Line for Now:
Instead of viewing your experience as the roadmap for how things should be, draw upon your experience to support your own and your team’s exploration of the future. While the road forward and the view to the horizon might appear alien in nature, the journey with an open-mind is much more interesting than the journey of someone frustrated that nothing looks the same. It’s your turn for change.
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Check out the “Leadership Tip of the Day” at Building Better Leaders. Today’s tip: 5 Suggestions to Help You Create Time to Think
Timely post for sure Art. New graduates will be entering the workforce shortly and leaders will succeed if they are looking to explore the value in the differences.
Yet, I don’t think a leader is purely an explorer. A leader blends their experience with the thoughts, insights, and suggestions of the team on how to achieve a particular vision. The blend, the balance — therein lies the secret to success.
To do that a leader must be willing to listen as well as contribute their years of experience. Here’s a post with a true short story to illustrate:
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http://katenasser.com/team-building-this-twist-on-trust-destroys-best-teamwork/
I will RT your post on Twitter for it lends another angle to the leadership discussion.
Kate Nasser, The People-Skills Coach
Kate, thanks for reading and for the resource suggestion! I agree that the Leader as Explorer is but one dimension of this complex role. Nonetheless, IMO it is an increasingly important component. -Art
I agree with you, that any manager has to be adaptive and flexible, especially when it comes to the new uses of technology in the promotion and marketing of products.
However, people are people they still have the same basic needs of trust and respect in the workplace. When we start treating employees as throw away razer’s, the new bics knows that their days are also number by the new boss who says you need to think more like me. This type of work environment will not facilitate the type of creativity for the huge problems we now face and will in the future. Fear in the work place creates problems such as the BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico; because, those that knew safety was being compromised, didn’t speak up. The same could be said about the Massey Coal Mining accidents in Virginia. Ethics do matter and people do matter over profits. Its always good to be open to how others think and investigate new ways to do things but, its our moral and ethical values that matter the most.