Leadership means directing and giving direction to a group of people, usually in an organization, to achieve certain goals. The leader’s job is to bring the group together, inspire, motivate and guide. Leadership, then, is the ability to direct and influence others to work together to achieve a common goal

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Forms of leadership including coaching leadership

In our article on coaching leadership, we discuss the six different forms of leadership. In brief:

• • Coaching
    Conduct, encourage and support rather than direct and command.

• • Democratic
    An equal distribution of power and responsibility between the leader and the group.

• • People-oriented
    Focused on personal development and change of the group.

• • Authoritarian
    The leader makes the decisions and the group follows.

• • Competitive
    Emphasis on creating a winner’s mentality and emphasizing constantly improving performance.

• • Visionary
    Explaining the vision and ensuring that management and employees share the vision and act upon it.

What competencies does the millenial or generation Z look for in executives

The young professional, primarily the millenial and future labor generation, Generation Z expect a number of competencies from leaders, including:

• • Transparency and open communication
    Today’s working generation expects open and honest communication from leaders. They want to be kept informed of business decisions and be able to get behind the organization’s vision and mission.

• • Guidance and development
    They want leaders to guide them in their personal and professional development and challenge them to improve themselves.

• • Work-life balance
    Millennials and Generation Z are known for their appreciation of a good work-life balance and want executives to give them space to find a healthy work-life balance.

• • Sustainability and social responsibility
    Employees are increasingly aware of social and sustainability issues and want leaders to take responsibility for the impact they have on society and the environment.

• • Diversity and inclusion
    They expect an inclusive and diverse work environment and want leaders to value and respect them regardless of their background or identity. It is important to truly embrace these themes (link: article diversity yet to be published).

• • Flexibility
    Millennials and certainly Generation Z want to work in an environment that gives them the flexibility to choose how, where and when they work, as long as performance is maintained.

• • Technology and digitization
    These generations grew up with technology and expect leaders to keep them abreast of the latest developments and help them adapt to changing technologies.

Most successful leadership style

There is no single leadership style that can be considered the most successful because the most effective leadership form depends on several factors, such as the situation, the culture of the organization, the goals and the people working there

If we look at the most successful companies worldwide, then:

Is Amazon an example of a successful company with visionary. Amazon is led by CEO Jeff Bezos, who is known for his clear vision and innovative thinking. He has led Amazon from a start-up bookstore to a large, global technology company. Bezos has a clear perspective on the future and is able to communicate this to his team and customers, inspiring them and giving them the motivation to continue to grow and evolve. This visionary leadership has contributed to the company’s overall growth and success

Apple’s leadership style has often been described as authoritarian and visionary, with the CEO (historically Steve Jobs) setting the vision and direction and the employees implementing it

An example of a successful company with coaching leadership is Google. Google has a culture that focuses on supporting and developing its employees through coaching and personal growth. Managers at Google coach employees through open communication and providing feedback and guidance. This leads to high employee satisfaction and productivity and has contributed to the overall growth and success of the company

Modern leadership

Modern leadership is about creating an environment where people feel liberated to develop and use their talents and abilities to help the company grow and succeed. It is about managing people by inspiring, challenging and guiding them, not by ordering them what to do. Modern leaders collaborate with their teams and create a culture of trust, respect, transparency and accountability. They are also focused on sustainability and the responsibility they have for the future of their company and society at large

Modern leadership also requires a deep understanding of the changing business environment and the ability to respond quickly to change. It is also important to have digital skills and understand how technology affects business. In addition, the modern leader must be flexible, humble and open to feedback and change. Or read more about the meaning of situational leadership

The leadership definition

In general terms, the leadership definition is determining the direction and future of an organization and the people who work there. Modern leadership requires a combination of vision, courage and competence. Successful leadership is often a combination of different leadership styles. Leaders must also be flexible and be able to switch between different styles to meet the changing needs of their organization or team