As the knowledge economy evolves amidst the chaos and complexity, so too leadership, as we’ve always known it, must also evolve and change. Today’s environment of chaos and complexity rends the idea of leader as controller and guardian an impossible situation. Out of the knowledge era has arisen the acknowledgement of the business organization as a system, and the necessity for connectedness. The chaos and complexity itself stem from the interconnectedness of all the parts – and therefore the need for participation and contribution from all the parts. Regardless of the size of the system – whether it’s the world food system or the IT department – in the knowledge era we’re all connected participants.
So the next challenge as we evolve through the knowledge era into an age of connectivity, is to understand and learn how we as humans connect with one another, and what that means to the role of the leader and what that means for future organizational success.
Leaders today must understand that the greatest opportunities for growing an organization lie in maximizing the potential of its people. Studies of American business, including health care, reveal the following general truths.
1. The average leader spends three-fourths of the workday dealing with people issues.
2. People make up the largest single cost in most businesses.
3. People are the largest, most valuable asset of any company.
4. People are responsible for carrying out the mission and vision of the organization.
Faced with these truths, leaders must invest time and effort in connecting with their workforce – that is, building effective relationships that enable the highest levels of performance. Positive connections with people start with developing the self. A leader’s behaviour is the single predictor of an organization’s performance level of connection.
Leaders must undertake a comprehensive program of self-awareness in which they learn about the convictions, mental models, and emotions that power their behaviour. Only by being aware can the leader make a choice to act according to behaviours that are most appropriate for inspiring, engaging, and guiding their people.
CORPORATE HARMONY is grateful to Dr. Michael E. Frisina for his contributions to this entry.
Catherine is the President and CEO of CORPORATE HARMONY, providing virtual solutions for leadership development and organizational culture change. Her leadership and coaching experience as a Project Manager in an ever-changing, fast moving technological organization with unrelenting demands drove her to the realization that a positive mindset and strength-building behaviors are essential for today’s complex and chaotic organizational systems. CORPORATE HARMONY’s virtual platform of programs, coaching and performance measurement, is an innovative online technology of tested proprietary content. The world-class content of CORPORATE HARMONY’s Positive Presence Program develops the skill of ‘Positive Presence’ and the necessary ‘Positive Presence Behaviour Competencies’ for maintaining a positive and energized mindset and increased performance in today’s complex work environment, and leading to a culture of collaboration and connection. Catherine’s vision for Corporate Harmony is to bring the skill of “Positive Presence” to the corporate world as it becomes more complex, ambiguous and chaotic. Catherine is uniquely positioned to impact organizations’ productivity and long term success, with her powerful vision of eliminating bad stress from every workplace around the globe, bringing purpose into the people equation to promote healthy, productive and meaningful work cultures and turn the tide on the neglect of mental health on a global scale. Catherine is author of the book: “CORPORATE HARMONY – The Performance Link for Today’s Modern Organization” Catherine can be reached at: Catherine.Osborne@corporateharmony.ca or go to ‘contact us’ on our website www.corporateharmony.ca. Catherine is available for consultation, and can be reached by 519-695-3407.