Rethinking Leadership for the Future of Work (an Interview with Heather McGowan)
Jun 27, 2023
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Heather McGowan, a Future of Work Strategist, discusses the shifts in leadership post-pandemic, the link between empathy and performance, challenges faced by existing leaders, and the evolving role of HR professionals. She also explores the importance of learning, empathetic leadership, social dynamics, purpose in work, and the impact of AI and technological advancements on companies and HR.
Leaders must adapt to the future of work by embracing a mindset of enabling success, fostering collaboration, shifting to intrinsic motivation, and focusing on inspiring and empowering behavior.
Empathy is crucial for driving organizational performance and achieving a balance between personal and professional life.
Leadership styles need to shift towards enabling success, fostering collaboration, prioritizing intrinsic motivation, and focusing on developing future talent and succession planning.
Deep dives
The Future of Work and the Need for New Leadership
The future of work is already here, with AI and machine learning transforming the business world. Leaders must adapt to this period of change and lead differently. Key shifts in leadership include embracing a mindset of enabling success, fostering a culture of collaboration rather than competition, shifting from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation, and focusing on behavior that inspires and empowers employees. These changes are necessary to harness collective intelligence and address the transformed relationship between individuals and organizations.
The Importance of Empathy in Driving Organizational Performance
The podcast highlights the increasing significance of empathy in driving organizational performance. Empathy allows leaders to understand their workforce, motivate them, and help them become self-propelled. Empathy is not about reducing performance, but rather enhancing it and achieving greater balance. The pandemic has brought about an existential crisis, expanding personal circles and overlapping professional circles. Finding the right balance and fitting work into individuals' lives leads to better performance, and empathy plays a crucial role in achieving this balance.
The Shift in Leadership and the Rise of Empathetic Leaders
Leadership styles are changing as the workforce evolves. Leaders must shift their mindset from managing people to enabling their success. Instead of fostering competition, leaders should prioritize collaboration among peers. The focus also needs to shift from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation. Traditional approaches to driving productivity, such as domination and fear, are being replaced by inspiration and empathy. Effective leaders not only drive current performance, but also focus on developing future talent and succession planning. These shifts in leadership are vital for leading an empowered workforce.
The Role of HR Professionals in Humanizing Work and Driving Business Value
HR professionals play a critical role in humanizing the work experience and driving business value. They need to prioritize the well-being of employees, avoid burnout, and understand that humans are the core source of value in organizations. HR leaders should focus on developing human potential, connecting employees to a sense of purpose, and fostering a culture that emphasizes empathy and engagement. To ensure success, HR professionals should collaborate with people managers to scale these initiatives and measure their impact on organizational performance and employee satisfaction.
Navigating Technological Advancements and the Future of Work
Technological advancements, such as generative AI, bring both opportunities and challenges to organizations and workers. Rather than succumbing to hysteria, it is essential to see technology as a tool for enhancing the human experience and removing friction from work processes. The key is to identify where technology can augment human potential and improve the employee experience, focusing on tasks that benefit from automation or increased efficiency. HR professionals should encourage a growth mindset, continuous learning, and adaptability to ensure workers can thrive in a technology-driven future.
In this episode of the Digital HR Leaders Podcast, David is joined by Future of Work Strategist and esteemed co-author of the books The Adaptation Advantage and The Empathy Advantage.
Heather McGowan is renowned for her expertise in all things related to the future of work, and this conversation promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of the shifting landscape of work and the critical role of empathetic leadership.
Expect to learn more about:
How the pandemic transformed the way we work and the four significant shifts in leadership that emerged as a result
The link between empathy and performance
The challenges faced by existing leaders who have been taught that an autocratic leadership style leads to success, and how they can embrace empathy as a transformative approach
The evolving role of HR professionals and the areas they should focus on to drive business value in the future
Practical steps individuals can take to transition and benefit from the 'empathy advantage' in their personal and professional lives
The implications of technological advancements like generative AI on companies and the future of work
Efficient ways of training and developing employees in a rapidly changing skills landscape
