12 BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER: Leadership by the New Generation

(EXTRACTION FROM LEADERSHIP SKILLS at http://www.mindtools.com)

 

The new generations of leaders often have a completely different way of working.  While boomers view long hours as evidence of loyalty and hard work, Gen X and Y tend to try to have more work/life balance.  The differences are:

·        They want flexible hours, more vacation time, continuous training, and telecommuting options.

·        They expect to leverage technology to work efficiently, instead of staying late in the office to get everything done.

·        They are independent, creative, and forward thinking.

·        The new generations also tend to like teamwork.

·        The new leaders value teamwork and open communication.

·        They encourage collaboration.

·        They won't give direction and expect to be followed just because they're in charge.

·        They want to understand their peers and other people's perspectives.

·        They spend more time building relationships with their teams than their predecessors did.

·        They value their family time, and they'll also give their staff enough time for personal lives.  As a result, corporate culture might become less rigid than it is now, bringing more flexibility and a sense of fun.

·        This new generation values action, so they'll work more efficiently and productively to earn time off.

·        They'll expect their team to work hard too, but they'll also know when it's time to leave the office and go play.

·        They also follow a leader who has heart.

Organizations need leaders.  Leaders are people who have the vision to see what needs to be done, and to motivate and energize people to perform excellently.  Spotting people with leadership potential is not always easy.

It's common to label high achievers as potential leaders.  It’s not that simple.  If people perform well, that only shows that they're well suited to their jobs.  Job performance, by itself, is not a reliable indicator.