The modern leader

 The days of employees doing as they are directed without question are long behind many of us.  In the modern workplace the employee arrives at work with a sense of choice.  The modern employee has more knowledge than ever before about where there are job vacancies and which training can open which doors.  On the internet, the grass is made to look very much greener!  The modern employee, at all levels, cannot avoid pondering the question: do I want to be here or would I be better off somewhere else?  This is an inescapable reality.  The perception that choice is available is deep-set. The modern leader, therefore, cannot expect to inspire, motivate and engage employees in their work, if they are blind to the reality that employees’ wants, needs and self actualization are massively influential when it comes to productivity and performance.

Add to this, the fact that the modern workplace is constantly changing and employees need to be flexible, adaptable and resilient in the face of change.

The modern leader needs to be many things.  Leadership is complex.  You may also notice that nowadays, the word ‘leadership’ appears to trip off tongues far more often than the word ‘manager’.  In the hierarchy of a modern workplace, the employee can seldom look upwards to constantly ask: ‘what do you want me to do?’  The leader who tries to direct every direct report amid constant change will quickly be overwhelmed.  Instead, the employee looks to the leader for leadership.  So what is it that the leader gives the employee?

The leader gives the employee the direction and destination.  But also, the leader must give the employee reasons to believe that reaching that destination is meaningful and purposeful.  There will be change, and dealing with change requires effort and imagination.  Change is always a challenge, and for some it can be truly terrifying.  The effective leader is able to provide the employee with an enticing image of what the destination looks and feels like.  The leader promotes a belief that everything will be ok, that the team is up to the challenge, and through shared responsibility, success will be achieved.  Leadership is about belief and with an effective leader, the belief is shared by the team or across the organisation.

Meaning.   Purpose.   Belief.

The modern employee requires purpose and meaning in their work if they are to fully engage their potential and talent.  Financial gain does not buy hearts and minds.  Leadership, therefore, has the potential to be incredibly rewarding and satisfying for the appreciated leader.  In the modern workplace, the employee is looking for leadership in its purest sense, not a series of directions from a manager, but a person to follow because they want to.