These are the digital leadership skills you need to develop in order to stay relevant and competitive.
It’s often said that in the 21st century, almost every company is a digital company. Indeed, the technologies that appeared over the past decade have changed the way companies and people work, globally. Powerful technologies now drive business strategy and fuel new opportunities.
What does this mean for the leaders? If every company is a digital company, will leaders need to develop digital leadership skills in order to stay competitive?
As digital transformation takes place in organizations around the world, these organizations will need strong digital leaders to champion the change. This new type of leader is a powerful combination of skills that will help them navigate the shifting technological landscape. According to digital experts, these are the seven digital leadership skills that are relevant to survive in the modern age.
Digital Leadership Skill #1: Digitally Literate
Cornell University defines digital literacy as “the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, share, and create content using information technologies and the Internet.”
In a 2016 global survey of managers and executives by MIT Sloan Management Review and Deloitte, only 11% of respondents said their company’s talent base can compete in the digital economy. What’s more, the respondents cited “lack of agility, complacency, and inflexible culture” as major barriers to digital success.
Although digital leaders won’t be required to sit down and learn to code, they must become tech-fluent as this is critical to business and professional success. They must be sufficiently knowledgeable in current digital recruiting solutions, have in-depth knowledge of innovation, and recognize emerging opportunities on five- or even ten-year time horizons. An effective digital leader should be able to constantly monitor and recognize technology trends.
Becoming an effective digital leader is not just a way to make more money, it’s a matter of survival in the highly competitive industry.
Digital Leadership Skill #2: Purposely-Driven
If a digital leader wants to see positive, 100% engaged employees collaborating together and going the extra mile to please the customers, then that leader needs to create a purpose-driven organization. The future of work incorporates creating purpose-driven organizations and leaders have the task of designing a workplace in which employees will flourish and thrive.
Short-term goals are not enough to motivate employees. The best way to increase employee engagement is by delivering a greater purpose and vision to the employees. As a leader, you must help them understand how the work they do makes an impact. If you bring the impact of their work close to them, the employees will feel like their work matters.
Does your company give back to the community? Is it socially responsible? Let your employees know and increase their motivation and job satisfaction. A dedicated workforce is a sure way to achieving organizational progress and staying competitive.
Digital Leadership Skill #3: Networking Proficiency
Networking is an unwritten rule in the world of business. People even say that “if you’re not networking, you’re not working”.
The benefits of networking are numerous. Not only that you’ll form new relationships and partnerships, but you’ll also have access to vital information, current trends in your industry, and find fresh places to connect with people.
There are many different places where you can build your professional network, including:
- Digital conferences
- Online forums
- Startup events
- Internet summits
- Business fairs
Having a vast network is incredibly important in today’s digital landscape, and a great digital leader will have a solid reputation and will stand out from the crowd. The trick is to stay open to meeting new people and nurture your network. You should set aside an hour of your day to reach out to people, have lunch with a business friend, or send them trending news.
Digital Leadership Skill #4: Good Communicator and Listener
If you look back to history, you’ll see that the world’s great leaders have also been the world’s great communicators. It’s clear that communication is central to success.
Any leader who wants to become a great communicator, they must be true to themselves. If you try to imitate the style of other people, you’ll only look uncomfortable and unnatural. For this reason, self-awareness is a vital trait for any digital leader. When a leader is self-aware, then that leader is committed to honesty and has a connection to reality. Having a connection to reality is vital to trust, charisma, and effective communication.
Moreover, effective digital leadership incorporates encouraging employees to be open and communicative in return. A digital leader must create a workplace where open communication is a must, mistakes are regarded as a way of making progress, and difficult conversations mean that employees love their job.
You should put an effort to connect with your people on both an emotional and transformational level. Ask your employees for their input, encourage purpose-driven conversations, and always keep them in the loop for important decisions.
Finally, never forget to celebrate milestones together and congratulate your employees for their efforts. Take a moment to recognize people and accomplishments instead of simply moving on to the next task.
Digital Leadership Skill #5: Enabler of Innovation
An effective leadership incorporates cultivating a workplace environment of constant improvement, innovation, and growth. Leaders must motivate the team to adopt an innovation mindset and collaborate together to deliver a unique product or service.
A great digital leader is well aware that innovation doesn’t come from individual genius. On the contrary, innovation is created through groups of people working together harmoniously. What leaders must do is make the right investments in people and resources to bring innovative ideas to full bloom.
According to Elon Musk, “it’s the talent of my people, the trust I have in his team, and a combination of collaboration, grit, and resiliency that keeps my vision and innovations alive.”
The innovation process begins by creating an environment that fosters innovation, employing a diverse workforce with diverse skill sets, and emphasizing open communication.
In a Nutshell
In a nutshell, a digital leader is a person who is digitally literate, purposely-driven, proficient in networking, a good communicator and listener, and an enabler of innovation. The leaders who will develop these digital leadership skills will be able to take their business to a successful future.
Do you have any additional skills to add to the list? We would love to hear your thoughts so drop your comments below.
