Making sense of leadership in the digital age

Leadership in the digital age has changed beyond recognition.

The advancement of technology and automation means that customers are firmly in control of the sales process. Marketers now enjoy time-streamlined workflows to target campaigns and focus on outstanding customer experiences via their bit of cyber-space.

That means traditional sales processes lose out to digital business development.

Customers don’t need representatives to deliver information; it is available at a keystroke.

Only trusted advisors with long-term relationships have meaningful access to buyers. Suppliers must provide excellent, free, educational, and relevant content, and customers need expert advisors, not sales representatives.

So-called flat structures have replaced top-down vertical management setups.

Yet, there needs to be more clarity about flat systems. Some say in that case no middle management is required. That is nonsense.

Hierarchies exist in all organisations, without which nothing would get done. They conflate hierarchy with decision-making, and no organisation can be without the latter.

There is much more to know, but each new ideology spells radical change in leadership but leaves unanswered questions for leaders.

Add WFH, social media influence, remote teams, big data, leadership coaching, leadership density and technology marching on unabated and you have a steep learning to stay abreast.

To help you keep in touch of the digital tornado world, and avoid career obsolescence and disruption contact Alan for more information about his ‘Making sense of the digital age’ workshop at alan@alandawson.co.uk or mobile 07850 577 441.