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.
Thinking & Problem Solving Skills
Today's dynamic business world demands that you make decisions that significantly boost productivity and drive competitive advantage. But how do you know whether a decision will benefit the organization? And how do you know that the decisions are based on rational and statistical reasoning? Explore how to become a dynamic problem solver with the skills to make accurate decisions.
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.
Tools for Developing Your Team
If a manager has too many weak spots in the talent of the team, the ability to empower the team members to independently execute the project is impaired. Assignments fall behind schedule or stretch out because the needed skills or knowledge are not in place when needed. To successfully execute important projects, hiring talented people, and increasing the talents of existing staff are most important.
Team Development by Building Trust
As your team begins to work together, you need to establish a way each team member can exchange ideas and build mutual trust. Successful groups are built on trust and collaboration. A free exchange of ideas, in an open environment, will allow your team to get to know each other and enable you to check on how they work together. Learn some tips to help build team trust and establish personal bonds.
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.
Concept & Definition of Stress
Stress is a popular expression used by people in day to day life. Pressures of day to day living sometimes necessitate coping or dealing with them and stretch the body beyond its natural capacity. They are called stressors. Stress is a natural, ongoing dynamic, and interactive process that takes place as people adjust to their environment.
Facilitative Leadership is all about involving the employees in the decision-making process at all levels enhancing their sense of ownership, responsibility, and motivation. Facilitative leadership style uses a number of indirect communication patterns to help the group reach consensus and build commitment for the decision taken. To be effective in modern organizations, managers need to become facilitative leaders, learn what it means to be a one.
Crisis leadership is a very important part of leading in today's world. The skills a leader needs in order to guide people during a crisis are different from the skills needed to help a group grow. Are you a good crisis leader? What is your leadership style in case of a business crisis situation? A business crisis can test the strongest of leaders, read this article to explore how to ensure you’re ready to take action and weather the storm when one strikes you.
Communication has as its central objective the transmission of meaning. The process of communication is successful only when the receiver understands an idea as the sender intended it. How does a message or an idea travel from one person to another? To transmit our message, we engage in a sensitive and complex process of communication, with different elements like sender, message, channels, receiver, noise, and feedback.
A manager or an employee in an organization who is experiencing a high level of stress may develop high blood pressure, ulcers, irritability, difficulty in making routine decisions, loss of appetite, accident proneness, and the like. These can be subsumed under three general categories, physiological, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. Stress can give rise to a number of changes.
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