The New Rules About Leadership

Anyone in any type of leadership role should keep their finger on the pulse regarding leadership techniques. This may sound mind numbing or even be considered "overkill" by some however adopting the right leadership technique is integral to reduce staff turnover and to retaining top talent. 

As years pass, previous generations of leadership move to retirement while new leadership and entrepreneurs’ step in to take their place, however, with each generation of leadership, comes a unique style of leading. It’s only natural because as times evolve, so must we.

In the 1850s, trade unions were first introduced, for skilled workers. Of course, at this time, this would have just been men, as women didn’t enter the workforce until 100 years later or just two generations after the first trade unions were implemented. After men returned from the front lines, women were put in low-skilled jobs such as typists or switchboard operators. However, then from the 1980s onwards, more and more homes had video computers and home computers, along with individuals having, somewhat primitive, mobile phones. Of course, as phones and computers became more streamlined along with being more commonplace in the home, this meant that anyone, from any age, could upskill themselves and teach themselves more and more.

The point I’m trying to make with the brief history of the workplace above is that workplaces have changed a lot over the decades, whether this be due to the economic climate or down to technological advancements. The workplace can be considered as a living organism that responds to its surroundings and that leaders need to adapt accordingly.

The current outdated leadership idea that I see in unhappy workplaces is that leaders see themselves and impose themselves as “superior” to their workforce. This may have been an acceptable view to hold 10-20 years ago, however, we now live in an age where we all consider ourselves equal and to say outright that “I’m the boss, what I say goes because at the end of the day I pay your wages”, while factually correct, isn’t going to get the best out of your employees.