What Happened To Leadership?

On most social media platforms, everyone has shared their experiences in toxic cultures and why they have decided to leave successful careers. People in all industries are changing, and their commitment to work is no longer one that supports toxic environments. Some people have decided to no longer partake in the unrealistic (and unspoken) expectations and have agreed to comply with their job description- nothing more. Some have decided to quit and embark on journeys to living their passion and trade the corporate culture for a more creative one. But there’s another percentage which has not been able to leave their job for various reasons.

A​ popular question among this group is- What happened to leadership, and what in the world is going on up there?

Leadership in diverse industries has been challenged to a degree no other generation has been in several years. But unfortunately, I believe some leadership has been unfairly spoken of for a couple of years. Here’s why:

This year, Athulya & Mita conducted a study focused on leaders' skills to address crises appropriately and implement appropriate crisis management plans. This journal highlights what it takes to manage unexpected events in leadership positions successfully.

But if there is literature on approaching these events, why are leaders still failing? The reality of the workforce is that most promoted leaders rarely receive proper training to succeed in their roles. It is one thing to excel at a job and another to lead a group of colleagues with whom most leaders work side-by-side. Realistically, most organizations house a group of leaders who are excellent at their jobs and know their field well. However, not all organizations have the funds or resources to guide their newest leaders long enough to ensure their success. The result? What we’re seeing today. Most leaders were never prepared for a crisis of this magnitude (pandemic, quiet quitting, disengagement, nationwide resignation). The truth is the expectation most employees hold for them- they also hold inwardly. But how can they prevail without the necessary tools?

Athulya & Mita (2022) identified a new kind of leadership called “Quintessential Leadership of the 21st Century.” This leadership type can help leaders succeed during challenging situations and serve as a guidance tool. Figure 1 shows the main pillars on which this new type of leadership was based.

The authors discussed all other leadership styles to develop this leadership type and identified the most effective during crises in various environments. They discovered competencies leaders must possess to implement effective crisis plans and carry them out well. Through conversations with distinct leaders in varied fields, they found patterns and trends to help today’s leaders succeed with the present threats.

— To be clear, this is not a presentation on how to solve all issues but a way to reframe how some challenges are being addressed. Leadership is not one-size-fits-all, but leaders can take a small piece from all leadership types and create their own. Becoming your team’s leader requires adaptability and willingness to experience growing pains every time. If you found this helpful, share or tell me what you think.

References: Athulya, N., & Mita, M. (2022, August 20). Quintessential leadership of 21st century — paving through the pandemic. CARDIOMETRY, 23, 216–225. https://doi.org/10.18137/cardiometry.2022.23.216225