The Future Ain't What It Used To Be

Thus spake the late Lawrence Peter Berra, poet, philosopher, and Yankee catcher without peer (Bill Dickey included). One of the things that will radically change the future is the fundamental nature of leadership. Yes, even in supply chain management.

And, the process of change is already underway. Older notions of bosses, slave drivers, martinets, commanders, managers, Type "A"s, intimidators, charismatics, and sociopaths are giving way to the more balanced, empathetic, and collaborative leaders who serve their team members, and teach them to serve customers, both internal and external.

What makes the new breed different? Here are some key characteristics.

Great leaders in the new century are passionate - and they have fun, especially when everyone else gets on the party bus to get big things done.

They, reminiscent of Tienamen Square, stand in front of the tanks, taking the heat and bearing the responsibility for outcomes, good, bad, or indifferent. They don't look for excuses to throw their people under the bus.

They play chess with the varied skills, talents, and powers of their people. In checkers, all the pieces are the same, and the lazy leader sub-optimize performance by under-using the best and brightest, while overloading the marginal performers.

Real leaders are who they are, all the time. They don't have to fudge the truth, or make impossible promises while hoping for miracles. They share information and knowledge, and hide nothing from their teams.

They can lead effectively in crisis situations. A steady hand on the tiller, a rock when storms rage all about, calm while executing a plan. Genuine leaders are not afraid or ashamed to display their humanity. Their concern for others is real, and their interactions are heartfelt. They have emotions, and express them, while suppressing runaway feelings in tough times.

The new generation of respected and effective leaders is humble. They are not better than the peons, and they are open to admitting error - and accountable to fix mistakes.

All together, we are seeing the emergence of great, and even unforgettable, leaders. Their modesty masks enormous strength of character. They create disruptive and sustainable visions, and their teams routinely accomplish results beyond any reasonable expectation in the models of the past.

Get on the party bus, boss, and make great things happen through your teams.