In the modern workplace, leadership development is a key area that many businesses are willing to invest in. In some organizations, billions of dollars are spent annually on learning and development for both current and future leaders. Many training and coaching endeavours include in-person conferences and workshops, with the hopes of inspiring new leadership skills and capabilities within C-suite leaders, high-level executives, and other high-potential employees. We have an opportunity to advance leadership development by helping organizations better understand how new assessment and training tools can be used most effectively.
Using social media analytics for leadership development also raises ethical concerns. In traditional programs, individual personality assessments are confidential, and it’s up the individual to decide whether or not to share the results with others.
Leaders shape company culture in a number of ways, but the most important is leading by example. For the company as a whole to adopt an attitude of acceptance toward change and technological innovation, leaders first have to truly embrace it and practice what they preach. Technological development needs to be more than just another investment, but a complete integration.
Tips for successfully implementing new technology For Leadership Development
Practice Emotional Intelligence:
When working in a remote environment it is fundamental to practice emotional intelligence as a tech leader. Being in a virtual setting, speaking with your team through screens rather than face-to-face in those office ‘water cooler’ moments can make it all the more difficult to ascertain how the members of your team are feeling.
Practicing emotional intelligence will allow you to manage both your own and the emotions of your tech team, enabling you to keep motivation high, improve communication – key in a virtual setting – as well as emphasise with your team.
Leadership begins and ends with inner strength, requiring the ability to understand ourselves while consistently learning, growing and pushing in new ways. In addition to enhancing self-awareness, strong leaders are adaptable to their surroundings, transparent, exhibit positive energy and practice emotional self-control.
Building value:
Communicate openly with employees, speak to the organizational benefits of the new process, and explain what motivated the change. Address what could be at stake if the implementation fails, giving ownership to everyone collectively. Highlight the direct value of new technology for employees and trust them to become invested in its success. Value their opinions by taking the time to collect and address feedback.
Lead By Example:
As a leader, the best way to build credibility and gain the respect of others is to set the right examples. Demonstrate the behaviour that you want people to follow. If you demand a lot of your team, you should also be willing to set high standards for yourself. Aligning your words and actions will help to build trust and make your team more willing to follow your example.
Communicate Effectively:
The ability to communicate clearly, concisely and tactfully is a crucial leadership skill. Communication involves more than just listening attentively to others and responding appropriately. It also includes sharing valuable information, asking intelligent questions, soliciting input and new ideas, clarifying misunderstandings, and being clear about what you want. The best leaders also communicate to inspire and energize their staff.
Motivate and Inspire:
The best leaders drive their team forward with passion, enthusiasm, inspiration and motivation. Invest time in the people you lead to determine their strengths, needs, and priorities. As well as making them feel valuable, this will help you to understand the best way to motivate them. Continually reinforce how their efforts are making a difference, and encourage the development of their potential with meaningful goals and challenges.
