Managing people for the first time? Here’s what you need to know about good modern leadership…

It’s 2023. 

We’ve emerged from a global pandemic.

The world - and our work lives - have changed immeasurably.

So what does good modern leadership look like today? 

And what steps can you take to emulate this style?

Here’s 3 characteristics of good modern leaders that you can style yourself on:

They believe they are there to serve their team 

Good modern leaders understand that they are there to serve their team - not the other way around.

Gone are the days of ‘Im the boss, you must do what I say’. Todays modern leader sees their role as getting the best out of their team and creating an environment in which their team can thrive and do their best work.

You won’t see a good modern leader behaving like a dictator. Good modern leadership is not about empire building or being controlling. Its about building high performing teams and giving them the autonomy to do their best work.

ACTION: Take the time to understand your team and the way they like to be led. Sit down with them individually and ask the questions needed to understand how they learn and how they communicate. And adapt your style to the individual instead of taking a blanket approach.

They act like the coach, not ‘the boss’

Good modern leaders see themselves as the coach of the team, not the boss. When you see a high-performing team in any modern organisation, you will find their leader is there performing like a coach.

Like any team that performs at their peak, there is typically a coach leading the strategy and thinking, whilst enabling their team to perform at their best. And if someone is under-performing the coach will step in and help them to improve. 

ACTION: Actively support and coach your team. Ensure they all understand the vision and the part they play in that vision. Make sure they know their role is important and they can see how their contribution impacts the team. If any players are struggling, actively coach them - spend time with them individually, ‘train’ them if needed, but never let them fall behind.

They are humble and admit mistakes

Good modern leaders are humble and will always admit mistakes. This humility is what makes their team love them and want to turn up and perform everyday. Humility is a hallmark of a modern leader and gives the team confidence that it is ok to make mistakes on the road to success.

ACTION: If you make a mistake, admit it quickly. Share with your team and let them know what has happened. Never blame anyone else and definitely don’t blame team members. Communication is key. Make sure everyone understands that you are taking responsibly and the steps you are taking to fix the error.

The world needs more good modern leaders. Too many people take leadership positions thinking they are there to tell people what to do.

If you are a new leader, decide how you want to show up and be consistent with your style. And I highly recommend adopting the above! 

I help people in the Marketing and Creative and Tech Industries to find their next perfect role. If you are looking to level-up your career, use the link below to schedule some time to chat about whether the programme might be right for you.