Tough Times Call for Good Leaders

With a world engulfed in war, poverty, climate change and now a coming recession, people are now starting to get a little antsy. More "good" companies have gone broke than we have seen in our lifetime, and those businessmen and politicians who once had our complete trust are rightfully being scrutinized by their peers and the public. Where did all the good leaders go? Surely there can't be a correlation between economic prowess and leadership capability; then we would be in big trouble in the coming months. On the contrary, there are good leaders out there, carefully planning steps to reach out and grab the reigns in government, business, entertainment, religion, and the like. Here are some attributes of the next wave of good leaders that we should look out for:

Confidence:

This attribute goes without saying. No leader can be effective if they constantly second-guess themselves. The next wave of leaders will be confident in their ability to lead and to pass on their skills and knowledge to those who follow them. Also, these new leaders will be confident enough in themselves that if a better idea comes along, they will gladly change direction. Following a course no matter what is a attribute of stubbornness; not confidence.

"Radical" Ideas:

The world is nothing like we knew it 20 years ago. In the nearing end of the growth phase of globalization, people need those leaders who have fresh, unconventional ideas to lead business and other industries to the next level, where ever it may be. The ideas this next wave of thinkers have will be challenged by those resisting change, but accepted by those who are embracing change. I say radical ideas in the context that the ideas will be methods and thoughts we have previously never thought about; going against the grain of conventional thinking.

Vision:

A quote that I love to reference when it comes to visionary leadership is "a leader's job is to look into the future and to see the organization not as it is, but as it can become." Times are going to get tough; this is only the beginning. So we are going to need leaders who can see what is coming over the horizon. Who has the ideas that will lead us to 2015? What trends, services, norms do they see affecting their fellowship? Ask those questions to the new leadership.

Open-Mindedness:

In the United States especially, the demographic landscape is changing by the year. In the next decade, the Latino-American population will be the largest ethnicity group in the United States. In two decades from now, Caucasian-Americans will be a minority in the U.S. Along with that, the northeast is much older than the west, older women are generally less educated than younger ones, and upper-class white men now generally have the same tendencies as upper-class black men. Needless to say, the new age leaders have to be open-minded to be able to lead diverse groups of people. Allowing one group to follow and another one not to damages a leader's credibility and can create factions within an organization. Leaders are champions of causes, not judges of those that follow them. As stated earlier, the new leaders will have to be open to multiple solutions to problems; for a flexible leader understands that there are usually more than two sides to a problem.

Empowering:

One of the best characteristics a leader can have is giving followers the opportunity to lead. Whether it is leading a committee inside an organization, allowing them to make a decision that the leader will follow, or delegating any sort of responsibility, this is where a good leader keeps their troops. Empowerment encourages buy-in from members. Members take ownership of the issue and now they feel like they have contributed to the cause. Nothing feels better in the world than someone else championing the cause that you started.

More Width than Depth:

We are in the midst of the smartest generation the U.S. has seen. Though these new leaders are going to be smart, they won't necessarily be specialists. Seek the leaders that "know a little about a lot;" well-rounded brains. No one wants a leader that is trapped in one way of thinking. A leader who can explore multiple options and can take different perspectives is one who will succeed.

Support System:

Like the President and their Cabinet, the next best leader should surround themselves with bright people. No "yes" men, no people who think just like them, but intelligent people that are familiar with the cause and have advice and counsel for the leader. It is foolish to believe one can make decisions by themselves without hearing the opinions of others first.

Young:

Don't let the age fool you, these young folks can lead. That's right, the next wave of new leaders are going to be younger than many of the current leaders in different industries. But are you going to let experience and age weigh more than vision and talent? These young leaders are going to have to prove to their audience that they can lead, and it is up to you to look at their attributes critically and decide if they are the person you want to follow. Listen to their ideas instead of asking for I.D. and how old their parents are.

Please consider each attribute carefully when looking for a leader for your organization. Ideally a leader that fits all of these points would be best; but like all of us, leaders aren't perfect and can be developed. I am sure you've passed someone like this in a hallway of your building, or read one of their articles, or maybe even received one of their resumes. My only advice to you: take a chance, and bring them in. How can it hurt?