The news reports about disrupted working relationships and stress. have been piling up lately. For example, more than half of Dutch people who reported sick to their boss turned out not to be sick at all. A shocking 60% report having a sleep problem, with work as the main cause. In fact, 1 in 5 employees leaves after a conflict at work. And as if all that weren't bad enough, more than 60% indicate that they experience time pressure and stress, according to the largest FNV survey ever. What is going wrong in our society? Is it our leadership? Should we change our methods? In this blog we try to use examples to explain whether you as a leader can help your team live an easier and calmer life.
Leadership and an economy of specialists
'In the past' the labor market was a lot simpler and there were only a limited number of training courses. What to think of the well-known 'domestic school' that many girls attended or the vocational training courses for boys. You learned a trade and could then continue working for the same boss for years. The employment relationships, that of boss and employee, were clear and accepted. How different is this now?
However, our teaching methods and subsequent labor market have fundamentally changed. There is an increasing need for specialists. Young people do not want to conform to basic skills. They often have a passion for a specialty and the school system is increasingly responding to this by offering specializations at a young age.
So we live in an economy full of specialists. Specialists who know more about their profession than many managers. Specialists who are not looking for the highest possible job, but above all want appreciation for their knowledge. That requires a completely different approach leadership.
Steve Jobs: The Do's and Don'ts of a Modern Leader
There are plenty of good examples of leaders, but there are few individuals who symbolize both the strengths and weaknesses of a modern leader. Steve Jobs was one of them. With his innovative, but also difficult character, Jobs had many characteristics that can make a modern leader successful. However, he also had a number of qualities that do not belong to a truly inspiring leader. Let's start with the don'ts.
The leader playing the bossy leader
Young people have more of an aversion to authority than before. This is noticeable every day in our labor market, as evidenced, for example, by the high number of labor conflicts. Jobs is a good example of this. He often had clashes with his employees. Not only because of his very direct form of feedback, but especially because of his sometimes authoritarian attitude in which he did not respect people and did not trust their specialization. In addition, a frequently heard criticism of the leader Jobs is that he liked to take credit when someone had a good idea. In any case, this is a common criticism of leaders.
Add to this the fact that many leaders, especially Jobs, find it very difficult to outsource matters. This trust issue leads to micromanagement, which is an absolute sin for a leader. So don't play the 'boss' in the traditional division of roles between boss and employee, but see your team as equal specialists who you can guide to the optimal result.
A modern team organization
We have already indicated that Steve Jobs carried with him both the do's and don'ts of modern leadership. It would be a shame to only mention the weaknesses of such a phenomenal visionary, so we especially emphasize the positive features in Job's approach.
Apple as a company has been known for years for working with as little hierarchy as possible. Also in terms of rewards. Specialties are recognized and appreciated. A good product designer can match the salary of a manager. This trend was started by Jobs, who knew how to recognize quality and, above all, how to reward it.
In addition, Apple is also great at empowering its staff, another trait that Jobs has managed to bring to the company. Employees, just like at a company like Google, are given the space to take their own initiative and initiate projects themselves. The company is also characterized by a strong sense of pride. There is no better motivator than passion and pride! A team that is proud of its work, in which all team members have a specialist role and in which they fight together for a central goal, is almost impossible to keep.
Are you a modern leader? Do you know the pride, passion and gain appreciation in your team? We are very curious about your favorite leadership skills. Share them with us!