As much as we all might wish there was, there isn’t a playbook on being an excellent leader. Those who have managed to distinguish themselves as incredible leaders have done so by the quality of their actions and the integrity of their intents.

Strong organizational leadership was once about creating standardized processes, five-year strategic plans, and then establishing controls to help achieve these plans. Leading in a digital world is instead about creating a culture that encourages — even demands — rapid innovation and experimentation. It is about empowering employees to feel and think like owners so that they remain motivated to create new opportunities. It is also about establishing a kind of radical transparency in which voices across the hierarchy can be heard. But all of this requires, in turn, the cultivation of an open and trusting environment.

While recognizing that leaders are frequently treated as experts,
there’s a greater need for leaders to position themselves as learners in and beyond the organization.

Digital economy is eroding ancient ways of doing business and thus it is imperative that leaders today unlearn and reinvent themselves to onboard the new generation workforce. At the same time, we need to stay conscious of the fact that — The digital world is not about technology, but people.