Technology leaders have replaced proven practices over the past two years with new approaches, mindsets, and competencies to lead others effectively through rapid change.
Where are we now? What does it make effective technological leadership today? To help you stay ahead, some practices, styles, and leadership skills are increasingly essential and trending upward, and some are less efficient.
1. Defending diversity, equity, and inclusion
Recent research from Great Place To Work confirms that companies that build diverse and inclusive teams and a culture of «Innovation for All» generate more high-quality ideas, implement greater speed and achieve greater agility, which results in revenue growth 5.5 times higher than its less inclusive peers.
Innovation has always been central to business growth, but it is now integral to business survival. With 80% of technology leaders saying they are responsible for boosting their companies’ innovation efforts, research must be no longer optional.
2. Maximizing relationships between peers
The role and influence of technology leaders have expanded beyond simply explaining new technologies to other C-level executives and board members. In the future, technology leaders must be able to build and maintain relationships with their peers and accompany them on their journey.
Research from Evanta shows that technology leaders need to work across functions with their C-suite peers to achieve their goals. However, the career and experience of collaborators have a significant influence and offer an advantage to peers, which requires a combination of social and emotional skills, transparency, and technical knowledge. Actively developing those skills can allow you to move forward.
3. Bringing other employees into the development process
Technology leaders have been so busy solving technology challenges across the company that they didn’t realize they had a problem: excessive turnover.
Right now, technology leaders are intentionally focusing on creating an environment where people can grow to stop high turnover. That environment includes improving skills, especially soft skills, and creating a positive employee experience.
4. Enforcing customer-centric leadership
It is no longer enough to have an arm’s length relationship with customers and a vague understanding of how technology affects their development. The time has come for technology leaders to step ahead. For example, a recent survey of 1,400 IT executives by Rackspace found that customer experience is a top priority over IT security/compliance, IT strategy, and digital transformation.
Customer-centric leaders realize that technology shapes the entire clients’ relationship with the company. They have the talent to interact directly with customers, understand their needs, meet changing expectations, and help drive revenue and growth.
5. Building self-consciousness
Self-awareness has become an essential feature of influential technology leaders. Why? Self-aware leaders actively reflect on how others perceive their words, actions, and behaviors and work to change any shortcomings to lead more effectively.
Which one of these do you consider to be the most important? Have any of them been put into practice at your workplace?
