The Changing Landscape of Leadership in the Workplace

April 19, 2012

Gone are the days when a good manager was expected to rule with an iron fist, today's leaders are asked to be visionaries, mentors, and facilitators. The diversity of staff, a difficult global economic situation, and pressures to deliver among diminishing resources bring new challenges. The reality is that in this day and age, problems are increasingly complex, there simply are no simple answers, and there is no simple cause and effect any longer. I cannot imagine how stressful it is to be a leader and to pretend that you have all the answers.

Some of the main challenges faced today:

Technology is changing the face of the workplace
Today's 
high-tech work environment is calling for leadership louder than ever. The environment is characterized by constantly changing definitions of success, intense challenges in hiring and retaining employees. The emphasis on restructuring along with the need to improve flexibility in an organization whilst reducing costs has often seen the end of stability, permanence, and mutual respect in the employment relationship.

Collaboration is key
The many 
advances in technology and changes in the workplace have resulted that leaders having to admit that they don't have all the answers. In addition, they have to recognize that intelligent employees are motivated by being involved in the direction and decisions that influence their work. Problem-solving is therefore pushed down to the level where there is the most expertise related to the problem.

Effects of globalization
Never before have people been required to 
work together with colleagues and customers from so many different countries and worldviews. More products and services are being consumed outside of their country of origin thus increasing global competition.

The next generation of successful companies are those who recognize the changing environment of the workplace, are able to adapt their approach to employee retention, and take into account that there is a need for a new generation of leaders.

Does your company have the next generation of leaders to ensure that your organization is successful? Contact Communicate Recruitment. We are a specialist recruitment agency in the Finance, IT, Engineering, and Supply Chain/Freight industries.

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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