In our present Hitech scenario, society is changing very fast. What are the skills that are most relevant for leaders in relation to the changing economic environment? Leaders need to develop skills to drive innovation and change in order to play a more central role in their organizations’ activities. How do managers accept the change and meet business expectations by becoming a key figure in driving change and innovation?
The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once observed that you could never step in the same stream twice. While you can dip your foot in the water again, the stream itself is an ever-changing entity. The old water has slipped past and, though the stream may appear placid, in reality, it is continually evolving. You all know that the stream changes all day, every day. You might say it changes twenty-four cross seven,” every passing second.
If you look around, you will find that ten years ago the face of the world was quite different from what we are familiar with today, and ten years from now, the world will be totally different from what it is today. The same principle is applicable to each and every being. This is because change is a natural, universal, and inevitable social phenomenon. If one wants to know at what rate society is changing, the correct answer will be at the click of the mouse. Change, since time immemorial, has affected each and every aspect of human life, whether it is a lifestyle, food habits, thought processes, language, art, relationship, religion, family, marriage, systems of society (political, economic, legal, and administrative), etc. What is important to note is whether the change is leading towards a positive end or not. Is change helping society in extension or development, or is the outcome just the reverse?
We need to understand that there are two types of processes that work in society - one which sustains the social system, and, the other, which brings about change in the system.
The first process may be termed, conformity, or, status quo.
The latter may be called the process of cultural and social change. In simple terms, change denotes a difference in anything observed over a period of time. Similarly, social change means observable differences in any social phenomenon over a period of time, and cultural change means observable differences in any cultural phenomenon over a period of time.
The dictionary meaning of change as a noun is making or becoming different, different from the previous state, the substitution of one for another variation, etc. Change as a verb means to undergo change, to make or become different. Change essentially implies dissatisfaction with the old and the urge for the new. Change underlies a qualitatively different way of perceiving, thinking, and behaving to improve over the past and existing practices.
After understanding the definition of change it is also very important to understand the nature and characteristics of change. The main characteristics of change are given below
The term "change" refers to any alteration which occurs in the overall work environment of an organization. According to Robbins change means making things different. We are familiar with changes brought about by the twin phenomena of liberalization and globalization in all walks of life. The banking sector has adapted to the emerging scenario very fast. And the power sector is now beginning to respond to these trends. Change results from the pressure of forces, which are both inside and outside the organization.
Change is continuous and intrinsic to an organization: There are changes in an organization that are minute in nature but take place continuously. An organization may be perceived as being in a state of flux (like the universe) and the elements of its systems and sub-systems always undergo subtle changes (incremental changes). Certain changes occurring inside the organization are very minute and their impact is hardly felt.
Change as extrinsic and discontinuous: Organisations are perceived as normally stable and change is perceived as disruptive, forcing organizations to modify, restructure, or reconfigure. A few changes are cataclysmic in nature, giving the organization barely any time to cope with them. These are almost like natural calamities such as earthquakes, cyclones, etc. in their impact. Some organizations may handle changes in a creative manner or make drastic changes in their strategy and direction to emerge out of this turbulence whereas others may get lost in it.
The external forces like technology, nature of work, economic shocks, competitions, social trends, and politics necessitate a change in the internal organization. In some way or the other change influences, the whole organization as the subunits or various departments in an organization are interrelated and interdependent.
Usually, there are many changes occurring simultaneously in an organization. An effective management technique is thus required in order to deal with the changes.
Productivity is defined not in terms of the number of goods produced, but in terms of value-added per employee. Customers don’t really buy goods and services but in fact, they buy a value - something they value. The future is all about tangible products fulfilling intangible needs. Ideas like this can transform a business and provide them a competitive advantage to thrive in the future.
Many different types of teams have been identified by social scientists. Managers may encounter the diverse types of challenges while managing different kinds of teams. Challenges associated with Cross-Functional Teams might be different from that of a Geographically Dispersed Team or a Virtual Team. This article explores some common categories and subtypes of teams.
Charisma is a certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men. Charismatic Leader gathers followers, through dint of personality and charm. Understand the meaning and concept of Charismatic Leadership and the qualities of a charismatic leader. Gain an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of using charismatic leadership. Finally, explore the difference between charismatic and transformational leadership.
A good leadership style is something that every effective leader must have in order to succeed, but identifying what that entails or does not entails might be difficult to understand. Most of the research on leadership focuses on the exemplary, best practices, and positive attributes of effective and successful leaders. This article talks about a new approach to learn leadership using lessons from bad leadership. That is the lessons to be learned by examining leaders who have not effectively exercised their power, authority, or influence.
Change is a complex phenomenon. There are different types of changes that are going on around us. Listed in this article are twelve areas in which change arises and bring some classification to it. However one may classify the change, the various heading is always interrelated. The change could be triggered by market changes, technological changes, or organizational changes.
Recognizing Stress & its Sources
As an individual, you almost certainly know what stress feels like. Stressors are events or situations to which people must adjust. Stressors may be physical or psychological in nature. The level of severity of stress is determined not merely by exposure but the intensity, duration, and frequency of stressors. The sources of stress are many. They arise from multiple areas both with the individual and from the environment.
David Kolb produced this popular model for learning in 1984. The model suggests four stages of learning which most learners go through in order to learn effectively. Leaming is itself a process of change. Something is added to our perception and prepared us for the next impression, which will change our understanding yet more, however minutely. The Kolb contribution is a significant one because it practically equates change and learning.
At different points in your professional career, it is helpful to identify your core values. Values are the qualities considered to be the most important guiding principles that determine the priorities in your life and greatly influence your career choices. Your career brings happiness when it is in agreement with the beliefs you have about what is important and meaningful to you. Awareness of your values will help you develop a clearer sense of what's most important to you in life.
Charles Darwin had once commented that “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.” Agility means the capability of rapidly and efficiently adapting to changes and recently, agility has been applied in the context of software development, agile enterprise, and agile leadership. Agile leaders play an important, even essential, role in scaling agility in an organization. Understand how being an agile leader helps in effectively catalyzing organizational change.
Listening is the foundation for good communication. It is also the hardest skill to master. Do you listen to confirm what you already know, or do you listen to explore and learn new things? How can we create receptive communication as a listener? The real art of listening involves awareness and sensitivity to the feelings of the speaker because it is at the feeling level that genuine connection, relationship, and healing occurs.
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