The Looming Global Leadership Crisis
Jun 05, 2024
A Call for Transformative Change
We are barrelling toward, if not already entrenched in, a global leadership crisis.
Employee disengagement rates remain alarming, with a staggering 70% of workers still feeling disconnected from their roles. Despite the massive annual investment in leadership development, amounting to billions of dollars, the statistics show no signs of improvement.
Now, with the rise of AI, poised to handle mundane tasks, should be a boon. Yet, as technology advances, people find their work—an integral part of their identity—being stripped away.
This shift sets the scene for an existential crisis for many, as the meaning of being human in the workplace becomes increasingly obscure. Displacement looms for numerous workers, necessitating widespread retraining.
For far too long, we have treated people as a resource, expendable commodities in the relentless pursuit of profit. Now, more than ever, genuine leadership is essential. However, what we currently call leadership is merely modern management practices. The inadequacy of our training programs and the process of development is evident; otherwise, the engagement statistics would reflect a different reality.
It is time to redefine leadership.
Two weeks ago, I addressed 70 business owners and leaders on the imperative of engaging humans in an increasingly technological world. During this discussion, I proposed a new definition of leadership:
"Leadership is about helping other people become the best version of themselves, so they can do their life's best work, while in your care and beyond." - Dave Clare
This concept of leadership transcends positions and titles. It emphasizes a profound care for individuals as human beings first, and employees or team members second.
As we navigate these turbulent times, we must reintroduce humanity into the workplace. Leadership should be straightforward: we lead people, and we manage resources. It is crucial to acknowledge that people are not resources.
To avert this looming crisis, we need leaders who can inspire and nurture the human spirit, fostering environments where individuals can thrive and perform their best work. This human-centric approach to leadership is not just a necessity; it is the only viable path forward.
The era of treating people as expendable commodities must end. Honestly, it should never have been here in the first place. The time for transformative, human-centric leadership has arrived. Let us lead differently.
It's time to lead different.
Together we can...
#EvolveTheWorldOfWork
Dave Clare, Chief Evolution Officer
WEEKLY CLARISM
Please see above...you get the point.