Great leaders will always be those who get great results, yet now more than ever, the leaders who will thrive will be those who get those results with and through others, not by pushing or controlling others.

The watchword for leadership success is commitment. Relying on or settling for compliance rather than commitment will be less effective in a world where employees are looking for more in their work and expecting leaders who give them a chance to grow and make a bigger positive difference in the outcomes of the organization.

Why Worry About It?

Great leaders continue to grow and improve, further honing their ability to consistently apply timeless leadership principles. So, even if you are wondering why we need to change, if the principles haven’t changed, the status quo isn’t enough. And while it is fair to wonder how much we need to adjust, that thought ignores the realities we have all lived/are living through. It might not be an attractive idea, but it is true – being an effective leader requires us to continue to grow and to continue to better understand those we are leading.

If you have been a follower-focused leader who has met performance goals by being aware of your team members’ needs, you have a better chance of success. But, the future of leadership requires us to make sure we understand the needs of our team members as the pathway to getting great results.

Missing this growth and ignoring the new perspectives of our team members puts us at risk of increased turnover, lower engagement, and greater personal stress and anxiety. Any one of these reasons should keep us alert, interested, and vigilant to become a better leader in a post-pandemic future of work.