THREE CORE CAPABILITIES TO FOSTER SYSTEM LEADERSHIP

System leaders differ widely in personality and style, but they have a remarkably similar impact. Over time, their profound commitment to the health of the whole radiates to nurture similar commitment in others. Their ability to see reality through the eyes of people very different from themselves encourages others to be more open as well. They build relationships based on deep listening, and networks of trust and collaboration start to flourish.

They are so convinced that something can be done that they do not wait for a fully developed plan, thereby freeing others to step ahead and learn by doing. Indeed, one of their greatest contributions can come from the strength of their ignorance, which gives them permission to ask obvious questions and to embody an openness and commitment to their own ongoing learning and growth that eventually infuse larger change efforts.

HOW TO UNLOCK YOUR EMPLOYEES' PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL

Traditionally, management worked as a hierarchy, with information distributed from the top down. In this model, employees looked upwards, deferred to authority and aspired towards promotion; they also had fixed job descriptions to which they conformed. In today’s organization, the nature of people’s roles and responsibilities has dramatically changed, and workers need to be more adaptive to a fluid economy and constantly changing environment.

The new world is a networked world where the linear career path is long gone; instead we are faced with a career helter-skelter. It is highly likely that most roles that are in any way repetitive will be replaced by machines or robots in the near future. Our most important assets are therefore our minds and our human potential.