In this time of disruption,  leadership makes  all the difference. Fortunately we quickly gain deeper insights through research about effective and impactful leadership. According to Gallup 86% of employees think their bosses are uninspiring. Technical skills have become a threshold. Emotional Intelligence plays a big role. Inclusive leaders make a real difference. Command and control does not work and neither does ‘simply let go’. Nowadays successful organizations are teams-driven much more than individuals-driven. And never the speed of learning was more important.

No organization seems to be immune to the realities in which business models are transformed by new technologies, new customer and new employee expectations. Traditional hierarchical organizations with their cultures are out of whack with their need for speed. Businesses must be future-fit by anticipating what is next, getting ready and building new capabilities for when the future comes. To seize new opportunities businesses need a more networked structure, an agile culture, a team-based way of working and a learning and experimentation mindset.

Innovation must thrive. Experimenting and learning -also how possible solutions don’t work- is essential for innovation. This requires a culture of smart risk-taking and of speed. Teams are empowered. People need to feel safe. Giving and receiving constructive feedback is a critical capability and teams share knowledge and experiences. Workplace platforms provide transparency and support collaboration between teams. Leaders use questions more than statements.