Lessons to Add to My Leadership Tool Belt…
…
Man, this thing is getting heavy!
Lessons
Learned
Change is inevitable therefore leaders
must be open to change. Adapting to the
advances in technology is vital if a leader wishes to stay up-to-date and
current in the worlds of leadership and technology. After all, leadership and technology go
together like peanut butter and jelly.
As a leader it will be important for me to be open to the changing world
and the technological advances if I want to be effective and able to lead in a
flattening world.
I have to stick to my personal values even if they do not
align with that of my organization – better yet, if they do not align perhaps
it is time to switch jobs (I did this during this class!). Building trust within my team is important
and can help to be accomplished by my transparency (http://www.fastcocreate.com/1683223/the-4-weapons-of-exceptional-creative-leaders). Encouraging transparency amongst all team
members will help the group to work more cohesively.
Whether the world is flattening or spiking it is important
for leaders to be aware of what is occurring. The only way to adapt to changes is to first
know there are changes on the horizon. Staying
up-to-date with current research will help the leader to identify trends and then
plan accordingly for action. Being
proactive instead of reactive can help instill trust in a leaders abilities and
it demonstrates a leaders wish to counteract issues even before they arise.
Top
Takeaways
In the world of leadership and
technology change is the constant variable.
I cannot run the other way from change – I have to be a change
agent. I have been a change agent in my
leadership role but not so much in terms of technology. I cannot expect my team to be open to change
and new ideas if I am not.
Accept technology as an adjunct to face-to-face
communication and interaction, not as a replacement. Having an open mind regarding technology - the
capabilities and connections which come along with it are important – not just
to me but to the whole world. Gone are
the days of long distance phone calls and hand-written letters. Here are the
days of Skype, email, Face Time, and Facebook.
The possibilities are endless.
Technology helps prove that learning is life-long for just as we learn
one application another has been created.
How
will my leadership change?
My most important takeaway from
working through this course is that I must learn to adapt to new and upcoming
technology. While I am busy pondering
how much technology has taken over our lives and made us dependent upon it –
technological advances are happening all around me. As a result, I am getting farther and farther
behind, making it harder and harder to catch up. If I am behind I am less likely to adapt to
change. Instead I become stressed out by
technology and consequently feel overwhelmed which results in my giving
up. Repeat over and over: I will not
give up on technology. I will embrace it and become accustomed to its role in
my leadership tool belt.
Role of
Leadership in a Digital World
Leadership, like technology, is changing as the digital
world changes. For example, a leader of
a team or organization may no longer be down the hall in another office. Instead the leader is in an entirely
different office building in another country halfway across the globe. The web has created a platform from which leadership
can dive into an ocean of limitless possibilities.
Leaders must help to lead the advances in technology rather than being led by technology. New technology can help direct our path but it should not be the road map for our leadership or our organizations. Each of us have the capability to make an impact on the world – our impact will likely be from our leadership roles in our homes, our churches, our schools, our organizations. You name it – we have the ability to make a footprint in our world and to leave it a little better than we found it!
Here’s to changing the world!
Sarah, I like your statement "Leaders must help to lead the advances in technology rather than being led by technology." Spot on! And as you note, the way to do that is to engage with the technology and with your team. This is becoming a world where "we" is the critical component in creating change.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your nursing perspective during this course. Best of luck with your recent career change and your future academic journey!
Thank you, Britt! You helped us all figure this whole blogging thing out - it has been fun becoming more comfortable and open to technology!
DeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI think that you have come to realize what I think this course was intended to teach us that technology and leadership are intertwined in todays world and that if we are to be good leaders we have to embrace technology. But not technology just for the sake of technology but technology that enhances our work, expands our knowledge base, and encourages growth through critical thinking and collaboration.
One point you brought up about being behind the power curve on keeping up with technology and that as it expands at exponential rates you are further and further behind. What struck me was that you kept using the word "I". While I understand you were focusing on what you feel are areas for improvement, remember that you are not alone. No leader is an island unto themselves. You have team members and collaborators from the outside that you need to use to help you keep abreast of the expanding data. Seek their help and advice and sit back and be amazed at how much data you will get pre-analyzed and ready for consumption.
Good luck with the new position and I hope we cross paths again.
Marc
Marc,
DeleteThanks for the reminder that I am not alone. I often take on too much and can be known for not utilizing my team members enough. As a result I am left running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I will take your words to heart!
Good luck in the rest of the program, Marc! Hope to see you around :)
Sarah, you just describe me to a T. Given recent personal events, I am finding ways to palm off tasks to my team but still struggle with not micro-managing things.
DeleteEventually we will get there and this program ought to be a great start.
Marc
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your comment that we need to accept technology as an adjunct, not a complete replacement to face-to-face interaction. While I believe technology has enabled us to have new and engaging conversations with people who we might not otherwise connect with across our globe, we also must be mindful of the value of face-to-face interactions. Sometimes, there is simply something gleaned by walking down the hall and listening to the buzz of the organizational culture. While we can not necessarily capture that dynamic online, we may be able to use blogging and other tools to garner the sentiments of our organizations. It will be fascinating to see where this evolves.
Amy
And evolve it will! Thanks for the comments throughout the course, Amy! Good luck with the rest of the program!
DeleteYou hit a great point that sounds like me. The internet is not a replacement of the old, it is “in addition to”. In the past, I avoided it because I was accustomed to the old ways. Only recently have I started grasping certain areas of new technology, mainly because of having children and wanting them to understand the benefits of it.
ReplyDeleteTo: In Search of Magis
ReplyDeleteFrom: NotSocrates
Nice post. I agree that we must work to lead advances in technology rather than being led by the technology itself. I think your new found openness to technology will bring you a long way toward where you want to be. The vessel of the mind must first be opened before the knowledge can pour in.
I think you hit on the core issue for us as leaders, technology must supplement our communication and human interactions not serve as a replacement. For me, this concept has been one of the key learnings during my study in this class. It has made me less fearful of technology and more open to change because I understand the people component. Now, I just have to figure out how to apply the technological tools helping people think, vision and dream.
Great work during this course Sarah. I've sincerely enjoyed reading your blog (and talking a little Chiefs football!).
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, I think it's clear that people want transparency and context from their leaders. Evolving technology offers leaders the necessary tools to share their rationale like never before.
Best,
Josh