Blog: The Future of Leadership (for Mid-Career Professionals)
Published on October 15, 2024
By Danika Covlin Veldkamp
We’ve all seen the headlines about mass layoffs and high inflation. As mid-career professionals, it’s a tough time to be out there, and we may be feeling burnt out or unsure about our next steps. At this time in our careers, there is often a need for navigators who work to guide their teams through the complex challenges being faced.
The good news is, there is a growing need for strong leadership skills at every level and you don’t need a fancy title to be a leader. This growing need for leaders to navigate uncertainty, inspire teams, and create positive work environments is your sign to shine! ✨
Here are three changes you can make to embrace your leadership era:
Part I
Shift your mindset - Prioritize people over profits and personal gain.
Traditionally, leadership has been about focusing on the bottom line, whatever the cost. That's changing. The future of leadership is about building trust and strong relationships. It's not necessarily about being 'nice' to your team, it's about building something real. When you invest in your people, you create a team that's more motivated, innovative, and productive.
So, how can you do that? Focus on developing your interpersonal skills.
Start with these resources:
- Building strong relationships: Building Stronger Relationships And Communicating Effectively In The Workplace
- Open communication: Mastering Collaboration Within a Team
- Effective feedback: How to Give the Most Effective Feedback
- Seek advice from mentors through platforms like Women of the Channel (free memberships available) and MentorCruise Interpersonal skills (AKA soft skills) like empathy, communication, and relationship-building will continue to be essential for leaders. After all, these skills help leaders build people-first cultures. As Shiran Nawi, Chief People Officer at monday.com, says, "People-first culture is based on the assumption that there is a strong correlation between happy employees and the success of the business."
Interpersonal skills (AKA soft skills) like empathy, communication, and relationship-building will continue to be essential for leaders. After all, these skills help leaders build people-first cultures. As Shiran Nawi, Chief People Officer at monday.com, says, "People-first culture is based on the assumption that there is a strong correlation between happy employees and the success of the business."
Quote & Image Source: BusinessChief by Tom Chapman.
Considering what a role in leadership looks like for you?
Read this BusinessChief article on the rise of Chief People Officers and the new direction businesses are taking. Shiran Nawi (above) and Julia Anas, Chief People Officer at Qualtrics, share their expertise on the role and the future of people-first business!
Quote & Image Source: BusinessChief by Tom Chapman.
Part II
Embrace your "Why" through purpose-driven storytelling.
It's common to see companies focus on the "what" and "how", but that's not the future. Focusing on the "why" connects you to others and builds a larger purpose that resonates with your values. We appreciate getting behind something we support and believe in.
Start by adopting one of these three methods at a time, in whichever order works best for you. I have personally used all three frameworks and love them equally!
- Ikagai: What it is and how to use ikigai to find your purpose
- Strength/Skills Frameworks: StrengthsFinder, 16Personalities, Enneagram
- Values: Personal Values Card Sort
Source: BetterUp Article by Madeline Miles. (https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-be-a-good-storyteller)
Part III
Take action & Lead by example.
The positive impact of ethical leadership extends far beyond your immediate team. It reaches partners, consumers, those you interact with for seconds each day, and many more. Add to the mix that you are making an average of 35,000 decisions a day, and you'll realize just how many people your ethical decision making can positively impact!
Additionally, research has shown that when people witness leaders acting ethically, those people are more likely to follow suit. That's why it is so important to surround yourself with people who embody strong, ethical behavior. When that becomes the norm, it fosters trust, collaboration, and a more positive environment for everyone.
It starts with small actions you can do in 30 seconds.
- Acknowledge what is being done by those around you. Pick one person to acknowledge today.
- Thank and express gratitude to those around you. Who is someone you can thank tomorrow? (Schedule an email to reach their inbox over the weekend and make their Monday a little brighter).
- Set and uphold healthy boundaries. Is there something you are feeling uneasy with right now? Consider if a personal boundary is being overstepped. Then, speak up and change course.
- Check that your values align with current initiatives. Then prioritize those value-aligned initiatives. (Check out the short case study below to see what this looks like.)
Lush Cosmetics: A Study on Value-Driven Business
Lush is a British handmade cosmetics brand founded in 1995. The brand went viral in the late 2010's and now operates in over 50 countries with over 800 stores worldwide.
Since its inception, Lush's leadership has led with strong values. Not afraid to speak or act out in support of value-aligned topics. After reports went public that showed Meta knew the impact social media had on young individuals (increasing rates of youth suicides, depression, and anxiety), Lush left Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat.
"I’ve spent all my life avoiding putting harmful ingredients in my products. There is now overwhelming evidence we are being put at risk when using social media. I’m not willing to expose my customers to this harm, so it’s time to take it out of the mix." - Mark Constantine Obe, Co-Founder & CEO, Lush
With millions of customers and tens of thousands of employees, the company put out a statement, Lush Is Becoming Anti-Social. From a personal perspective, this bold move was one of value-alignment. From a business perspective, it was a huge risk.
Source: Lush's Instagram Page
While, the true outcome of their decision is still yet to be made known since 2021, the fact is, leadership took action. They took a bold stance that aligned with their values.
✨ And with a little bit of courage and discipline, you can too. ✨
Bio: Driven by creative prowess, I combine creativity and business acumen to help businesses and individuals achieve growth and build strong connections. My dedication to people-oriented business strategies highlights my pursuit of the greater good for my clients and my partners.