Gone are the days of command and control, “because I said so” leadership and punishing disobedience with a slap of the ruler (or worse!). In both the military culture and private sector, a new form of leadership is emerging these days.
My experience with military leadership comes from 15 years of working closely with transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses. As a civilian, my experience with the inner workings of the military comes from what I’ve seen in movies (kidding!) and that which has been shared with me by the hundreds -- if not thousands -- of you who’ve worn our nation’s cloth.
I have spent my entire career in or adjacent to the private sector and have seen firsthand the leadership changes that have taken place over the past 20-plus years. Today, those changes are catching many of my military -- and civilian -- clients unaware and off guard.
Here are three examples of shifts in the private-sector leadership model:
1. Positional Power Is Going Away
Today, we see people having impact on initiatives not because they’ve been voted in or earned the rank or job title that would previously accompany such influence. They are making a difference and driving change, because they’ve listened, learned, adapted and leaned in to build trust, share a thoughtful vision and make a difference for the right reasons. Many of these individuals are not famous or recognizable, but their impact is known and felt through their organizations and communities.
2. Leaders Must Show Realness
Gone are the days when stoicism and a “poker face” won you respect. Today, leaders who demonstrate vulnerability, empathy and investment in their employees secure loyalty. Vulnerability means being real enough to admit fault, take ownership of bad choices and share what experiences feel like. Vulnerability is not seen as a weakness, but rather as a strength in the leaders people want to follow and work hard for.
Realness means being genuine. Real people connect (and forgive!) real people, flaws and all. And accountability and ownership, along with myriad other traits such as integrity, passion, vision and credibility, provide us with the qualities of leaders that make us feel safe, empowered and inspired to get behind their vision and push it forward.
3. Executive Presence Is Outdated
In the past, you grew your civilian career -- eyeing that corner office the whole time -- by looking and sounding a certain way. Our messages were crafted and scripted. Our wardrobes were tailored and of a limited number of acceptable colors, and if you had charisma and gravitas, you were good to go. The problem came when the scripted messages didn’t sound genuine, the clothing no longer reflected who you are and we saw people without charisma at the front of the room, gaining enviable levels of followership.
Today, traditional models of executive presence have given way to more approachable and relatable forms of influence building. Today, someone with credibility, passion, insight and a vision can interrupt more staid processes to drive impactful change. Today, the person in the back of the room can have more clout and sway over how decisions are made than the person with the right job title at the front of the room.
What this means is that leaders today should look to those voices who might be reluctant -- those patiently waiting for a turn to speak or the right time to jump into a conversation. That hesitant person might have the secret to unlock great ideas because of where they come from and what they’ve seen. Leaders today recognize we need to hear from them, too.
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