The world around us is changing, and leaders are having to evolve. Not only are we seeing massive generational differences manifest themselves across our global workforce, but we are also facing a growing shift towards remote working and mental health awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further to this, social media and open review sites such as Glassdoor are forcing employers to be more accountable. We believe this is a good thing – but we also recognize that it\u2019s a challenge to navigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So we\u2019ve picked out some of the most effective ideas and angles we\u2019ve seen by some of the most successful modern leaders in the world today. If you want to improve your influence and become a better leader in this evolving world of work, then these 16 habits are for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Great leaders are willing to take risks. That doesn\u2019t mean there\u2019s anything wrong with being risk averse – but if you constantly try to play it safe, then you might not be modern leader material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good thing about risk-taking is that it\u2019s a win-win situation. Or, as Dr Sharon Porter puts it, writing for Forbes<\/a>: \u201cYou win or you learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Porter explains that taking risks means moving forward despite fear and\/or uncertainty. If your risk pays off, great. But if it doesn\u2019t? Then at least you learn a lesson – we cannot grow as leaders, without experiencing discomfort along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember though, that taking risks does not mean behaving erratically. As a leader, you should still aim to calculate your risks and prepare for the different potential outcomes. This does not mean there\u2019s no chance of failure – failure will, and should, be an outcome, as we\u2019ll see in point two below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So many leaders are afraid of making mistakes. This is perhaps because one of the more outdated schools of thought is that leaders should be perfect, and all-knowing. This is, of course, far from true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern leaders show the people they lead that it is OK to get things wrong. They create a safe environment where people are not afraid to step out of their comfort zone, and where they are not punished for making mistakes. And the best way to create this environment is to lead by example – by making mistakes yourself. Not only will this help others, but you\u2019ll learn and develop as a person, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But while understanding the benefits of making mistakes may be a trait of modern leaders, it\u2019s certainly not a new concept. After all, it was Albert Einstein who famously said that \u201canyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think that something is too ambitious to achieve, then chances are you\u2019ll never achieve it. Not because you can\u2019t, but because you\u2019re putting a glass ceiling over your ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This behavior rubs off on the people you\u2019re trying to lead – which is why you should always shoot for the stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, you might not always get where you\u2019re going. But you\u2019ve got to at least believe you can. Modern leaders don\u2019t place limits on success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Micromanagement is such an ineffective practice, yet there are still dense pockets where this outdated practice continues to crush true productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In almost all situations, employees are less productive when you try to manage their time for them. Not only does it feel condescending, but you can make people feel like they\u2019re trapped. What\u2019s more, you\u2019re basically telling people that you don\u2019t trust them to take care of their own responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern leaders set goals and outcomes, but they don\u2019t try to dictate every single step required to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Make mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3. Smash the glass ceiling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
4. Stop micromanaging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
5. Practice situational humility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n