Leaders Need to LEAD Change Not Follow Change

Master leaders know that they must create the future from the choices and behaviors of the present. In today’s fast paced and increasingly technological workplace the need for leaders to lead change is higher than ever before.

Teams are more diverse than ever before with multiple generations, multiple cultures and other factors. Leaders today need to be more flexible, more adaptable, more open and more visionary. Teams respond to a leader who says ‘we are going to do this because there are signs that change is coming’.

A great example of this is Steve Jobs who did not pay any attention to his competitors other than know that they existed, he preferred to stay focused on what could be created within their platform. Think of the most innovative people in history and not one of them followed the status quo, rather they ‘led’ the change through their innovations.

Benjamin Franklin, Lincoln, President Clinton, and more all saw a future and led themselves and others to join them in the changes the foresaw. It’s not enough today for a leader to have vision- a leader needs to have prescience a sens of what’s coming and an ability to lead themselves and others proactively rather than re actively.

Leaders who follow change simply tap into the ‘herd’ mentality and competitor copy cat and re actively do what everyone else is doing. Whereas a leader who leads change challenges the status quo, looks for creative solutions, involves others to move change forward.

Tell me- as a leader which of these gives you more energy? Which of these creates more drive and focus?

Which of these would likely motivate your team?

There is a leadership imperative RIGHT NOW- lead change and do not follow!