San Francisco, 20:00 local time. An exclusive location that is booked to the last seat. The mood among the 500 attendees is relaxed, they are chatting informally, a feeling of anticipation is in the air. The lights are dimmed, the voices softer and then he takes the stage - the renowned speaker and leadership expert Darren Hardy. His appearance is brimming with self-confidence and determination. He is greeted with frenetic applause from the audience. It then falls silent, and everyone eagerly awaits his keynote. Darren Hardy opens the evening with the words: "Everything you've learned about leadership is wrong." A sentence that strikes the audience like a bolt of lightning. But is this just pure provocation or does Hardy open up a whole new perspective on leadership?
Behind the statement is the essential question of where our idea of (good) leadership comes from in the first place. What do we think we know about it and where do our assumptions and evaluations come from? We acquire more than 80% of our behaviors through observation and imitation. It is deeply rooted in our DNA that we "copy" attitudes and actions from others.
Your leadership style therefore reflects the values and methods of important caregivers - your parents, grandparents, superiors. However, the question now arises as to whether these are still up to date or whether they are already outdated and therefore ineffective.
The dilemma: traditional vs. modern leadership
There are many leadership experts who believe that leadership is independent of the age. It is above all principles and qualities that make people effective leaders - regardless of external factors. But which statement is true: is leadership detached from the current times or does it have to adapt?
In my opinion, the demands on managers in the 21st century have undoubtedly changed. A large majority will agree with me on this point. The current global situation characterized by multiple, unpredictable crises underscores the fragility of living conditions, the economy and freedom. However, despite our recent experiences, few leaders have changed their behavior and remain unprepared for crisis situations. They lack the ability to act in uncertain times and the decisiveness to make decisions. In short, they fail to meet the demands that challenging times place on leaders.
Timeless principles of effective leadership
So does this mean that all the principles we know about leadership are a big mistake, as Darren Hardy said? In my opinion, despite all the changes and challenges, there are fundamental principles of effective leadership that are constant. These can be applied at any time regardless of the context of the times - provided the essence of effective leadership is understood. The skills required to be an effective leader have evolved over time, but the basic principle of leadership - "leading by example" - remains unchanged. Even if values and beliefs change over the generations, the essence of human beings remains the same. This does not change as a result of technological progress or the far-reaching changes associated with digitalization. We still learn largely through imitation and observation, be it from people close to us or figures from the media and pop culture. Over time, the behavior, language and attitudes of these people rub off on us and we imitate them. This also applies to managers and employees. So reflect on what you model for your employees ...
The journey to the best version of yourself
With my new book "The Hero's Journey of a Leader. How to become the best version of yourself as a leader" (available from Amazon, Orell Füssli, Wiley or directly from the author), you too can critically reflect on whether everything you think you know about leadership is a mistake and embark on your personal hero's journey to becoming the best version of yourself.
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