Leading in a changing world : leadership lessons for future focused leaders

"Fascinating - A teaching book that I couldn't put down!" If the world is changing, leadership needs to change. The world is changing. It is that simple; it is that complex. Through our work in TomorrowToday Global we have been at the very forefront of this intersection of a changing world and changing leadership across the broad scope of industries and sectors spanning all corners of the globe. And what we see concerns us. We see leaders who are frustrated that they can’t mobilize their teams to adapt quickly enough to change. We see leaders who feel the horizon of their strategic plans rushing ever closer, resulting in decision making that often feels closer to guesswork than science. We see leaders battling to manage their teams, to keep and get the most of talent, to develop succession plans and to ensure everyone is focused on the same outcomes. We see leaders exasperated at the lack of initiative their teams have, and yet equally bound by increasing regulation, bureaucracy and inertia. We see leaders struggling to lead. We see leaders unable to admit that they’re struggling to lead. Maybe the symptoms we’ve just listed don’t all apply to you, or maybe you have a sense that your organization’s problems lie elsewhere. Whatever the specific issues are, we’re sure you’ll agree with us that leadership isn’t what it used to be. And a big part of the reason for this is that leadership itself is changing – just as the world around us is changing in dramatic ways. The leadership theory that underpins our practices of leadership is in need of review. For the most part, the way in which we review and measure leadership practice no longer works. The only way to change all this is for leaders (and those tasked with the responsibility of leadership development) to step back, rethink things and be willing to change. It means asking searching questions, challenging assumptions and revisiting formulae that have, for a very long time, worked rather well. This is easier said than done. But it can be done, and this is what this book is about. Future-focused leaders will gain insight into what it takes to succeed in a time of disruptive change. The book provides both a new lens through which to see the world and leadership, as well as practical tools and tips to help you make the journey towards a new leadership style and approach.