How to Lead in this New Age
Anyone, with even a low level of awareness of what is happening locally and internationally, would recognize that we are living in unprecedented times. Just in the last few years we have had a global pandemic, tsunamies, hurricanes, wars, escalation in crime, the dawn of a quantum leap in artificial intelligence, the dismantling of global trade and a dramatic rise in terrorism. These factors and their impact on persons’ mental health have shaken all organizations to their core.
And this calls for a new culture of organization leadership. One that embraces a democratization of leadership - everyone has to be a leader of sorts. And this requires a widespread development of individual leadership skills. Leadership skills that embrace values, virtues, entrepreneurial skills, service to others, courageous yet humble and with a deep spirituality.
People need people to help them flourish in times of change, persons that they can trust to be authentic and genuine and have their best interests at heart. One of the big obstacles to this type of leadership is fear and a low level of self esteem. Persons fear failure and criticism and as a result are unwilling to be innovative and to take chances. As Pope Francis says - this is not new - this is the same old attitude by some to stay in Egypt or in the desert, as in the Exodus story, they are afraid to go into the ‘Promised land”.
So how do we embrace this type of leadership ourselves? It starts with a deep relationship with God through Jesus Christ. And to achieve this we must become persons of prayer, daily walking with Jesus through personal conversations - trusting in him, telling him of all your anxieties, fears, hopes and dreams, asking him how to proceed at times of decision making.
And as a person of prayer we draw on God’s transformative power to manifest in us courage, respect for each person, a willingness to be part of a guiding coalition of positive persons and not acting as a lone ranger, living by virtue and values, listening to all, exhibiting perseverance and humility. Being such a leader is more character and being before doing and acting.
