I was speaking with a professor in one of the top business schools in our city one morning. Our discussion was on how times have changed in terms of leadership.
In the 70’s, 80’s and towards the 90’s, leadership was about STRATEGY, STRUCTURE and SYSTEMS. He came from the hippie generation and because that was the cultural element then, structures and systems were key to lead people who highlighted free expression towards an extreme extent.
But as the millennium shifted, things have changed. Harvard Business Review had an article on the changes in the leadership style that is needed to rally the millennial generation.
As my professor friend emphasized, it’s no longer STRATEGY, STRUCTURES and SYSTEMS but PURPOSE, PEOPLE and PROCESS.
Does this mean systems and structures are not important? Of course not. But what this means is that the way we lead the younger generation has to shift as well.
People over process.
More than top-down leadership, we employ inspirational leadership. More than positional, it is now collaborative.
May God give us wisdom as we lead others in this day and age.