Invest in Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

Leaders at every level understand that the world is changing, and changing rapidly. If we want to remain effective, the most valuable investment we can make is the development of our leaders today to ensure great leadership tomorrow.

When we invest in leadership for the future we need to ensure that we can keep up, both with technology and with increasing levels of interconnection and interdependence.

And we need to start today in order to cultivate the skills and attributes we’ll require tomorrow:

Invest in Problem Solving: Our future leaders will no longer be able to get by with just solving problems and conflicts. They will have to be able to pivot problems—to turn negative situations into advantages and opportunities.

Invest In Agile Leadership Our future leaders will need to embrace new experiences, especially those that make them uncomfortable. They will need the ability to immerse themselves in an unfamiliar environment and get their bearings quickly.

Invest In Scientific Thinking. Our future leaders will need to be able to connect the dots between the past and the present as they look to the future.

Invest In Collaboration and Community. Our future leaders will need to learn how to look at the world through the eyes of others, especially where there are perceived differences or disagreements, and collaborate across communities. Doing so will help develop the kind of positive engagement that defuses tense situations and builds relationships.

Invest in Trust and Transparency. Our future leaders’ values will be even more important than ever, and a climate of trust and transparency will remain critically important.

Invest in Forward Failure. Our future leaders will need to be able to “fail forward”—to shift from traditional problem-solving approaches to find the value in each effort and innovation regardless of the outcome. Every experience has something to teach us when we make it less about failure and more about innovation and creativity.

Invest in Diversity. Our future leaders will value the benefits that come from differences in gender, nationality, culture, and age. Every person brings a unique perspective to the table; when we listen, we lead.

Invest in Constant Contact. Our future leaders will be required to create, connect, and engage within a variety of networks, social platforms, communities, and cultures in order to acquire near-infinite resources and perspectives.

Invest in Coherence and Clarity. Communication continues to become more complex as it happens across different platforms and between generations and cultures. Our future leaders will need to communicate coherently within interrelated organizations and challenges.

Invest in Value Propositions. More than ever before, our future leaders will need to differentiate themselves from others. Leaders will need to know what sets them apart and express their unique values by seeking out tasks that show others their strengths and character.

Invest in Shared Contribution. The hallmark of our future leaders will be an environment of shared vision, shared values and shared purpose. Because leaders cannot always be physically present to manage and lead, the only way they can be sure their people are working in a concerted effort is to create a shared vision, guiding values, and clearly articulated strategies. As the world keeps changing and our organizations continue to expand, leaders at all levels must understand that this is one of their primary responsibilities. Shared investment means a winning outcome for everyone.

If we are going to be successful in the future, we need to start investing in our leaders today, so we can cultivate great leadership of tomorrow.

Lead from Within: When all skills are cultivated, the most compelling is leadership from within. As leaders of the future, we will need the capability to see what’s missing and what needs to be cultivated, beginning with ourselves. Others count on us to be the best we can be, and the future awaits no one. The present is here now, with an opportunity to begin creating our best future selves.

 


 

N A T I O N A L   B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness

After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images


Lolly Daskal is one of the most sought-after executive leadership coaches in the world. Her extensive cross-cultural expertise spans 14 countries, six languages and hundreds of companies. As founder and CEO of Lead From Within, her proprietary leadership program is engineered to be a catalyst for leaders who want to enhance performance and make a meaningful difference in their companies, their lives, and the world.

Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.

  1. Vikas Saxena

    14. Oct, 2014

    Lolly : Your post : ‘Invest In Tomorrow’s Leaders Today’, is a crisp exposition on one of the most fundamental aspects related to Leadership. A marvelous enunciation, indeed !!

    I often wonder that, is there any need to over-emphasize the facts, that, it is getting competitive day-by-day and so on and so forth, and so on and so forth !

    What really needs to be appreciated is, that, ROI [ Return on Investment ] in Leadership is unquantifiable and immeasurable. It is only the Leader who will hold the key to thriving which is any time more important than surviving.

    ‘Perform or perish’ signifies high performance and coming to terms with mediocrity is repugnant to a high performer. A leader is one who will exemplify high qualitative performance.

    By investing in tomorrow’s leaders today, precisely along the lines advocated by you, Lolly, will make it sure that, the tremendous potential is disallowed from dissipating in itself.
    *****************************************************
    Vikas Saxena
    CEO : Professional Expertise Group [PEG]
    http://www.professionalexpertisegroup

    ******************************************************

    Reply to this comment
  2. Vikas Saxena

    14. Oct, 2014

    Lolly : Your post : ‘Invest In Tomorrow’s Leaders Today’, is a crisp exposition on one of the most fundamental aspects related to Leadership. A marvelous enunciation, indeed !!

    I often wonder that, is there any need to over-emphasize the facts, that, it is getting competitive day-by-day and so on and so forth, and so on and so forth !

    What really needs to be appreciated is, that, ROI [ Return on Investment ] in Leadership is unquantifiable and immeasurable. It is only the Leader who will hold the key to thriving which is any time more important than surviving.

    ‘Perform or perish’ signifies high performance and coming to terms with mediocrity is repugnant to a high performer. A leader is one who will exemplify high qualitative performance.

    By investing in tomorrow’s leaders today, precisely along the lines advocated by you, Lolly, will make it sure that, the tremendous potential is disallowed from dissipating in itself.
    *****************************************************
    Vikas Saxena
    CEO : Professional Expertise Group [PEG]
    http://www.professionalexpertisegroup.com

    ******************************************************

    Reply to this comment
  3. Krista

    14. Oct, 2014

    I like the idea of shared contribution. I think it is important to provide value to the world, that is revolutionary and opening allows each of us to lead from within . Shared contribution allows us to appreciate and analyze the way others see the world and their valuable contributions.

    Reply to this comment
  4. Fred Aubin

    14. Oct, 2014

    Another great post post Lolly. Investing in the leadership future of others is probably one of the most sacred duties of leaders. From a pragmatic perspective, the professional development of future leaders is the center-of-gravity in ensuring that our organizations, ideals and values endure. Even, from a purely selfish perspective, you should do it to ensure that leadership succession is guaranteed in your absence should you be run over by a truck, train, bus, M1A1 tank or golf cart (depending on their chosen profession or commuting preferences). Great post.

    Reply to this comment
    • lollydaskal

      21. Oct, 2014

      I believe you are correct Fred when you say “Investing in the leadership future of others is probably one of the most sacred duties of leaders.”
      It is our duty and a privilege so we must take it seriously.
      I just hope no one gets run over by a truck or M1A1 …….

      See you on #leadfromwithin

      Reply to this comment
  5. LaRae Quy

    14. Oct, 2014

    We get so caught up as leaders in grabbing at goals that we forget those goals must be attached to a vision.

    As you point out, Lolly, when this happens we also forget what is truly important as leaders—to invest in our future by “growing” other leaders.

    Great reminder, Lolly!

    And have a great week!

    Reply to this comment
  6. Panteli Tritchew

    15. Oct, 2014

    Hi Lolly,
    I love your emphasis on sharing in this post: Shared Contribution, Shared Vision, Shared Values and Shared Purpose that lead to Shared Investment.
    One can’t Share without Collaborating, and Collaborating builds Trust and Community. All of the investments listed are a wonderfully woven DNA strand of Leadership codes!

    Reply to this comment
  7. Bob Brady

    16. Oct, 2014

    Investing in people is a mandate in times like these. Giving tomorrow’s leaders a chance to shine and show you and others what they’re truly capable of achieving remains a huge opportunity for business growth, now and in the future.

    Reply to this comment
  8. Ace-Nectar

    03. Dec, 2014

    Nicely written, well structured, poignant, instructive, insightful & pertinent for any decent human being.

    Reply to this comment
  9. David

    01. Jan, 2015

    Exciting times. Web gives us opportunities to be less restricted by geographical barriers and scientific knowledge exploding.

    Reply to this comment
  10. Aydaroos

    28. Sep, 2015

    Hi Lolly
    Thank you for grateful post. I agree with you invest in tomorrow’s leadership today .

    Reply to this comment

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