One might wonder what makes a quintessential leader different from a Technology leader. Well, to be honest, the fundamentals remain the same; instead, the aesthetic appearance changes to reflect the modern approach to work from a digital perspective.
What really defines a Technology leader is the integration of tech to achieve the overall business goals and objectives. Digital leaders ensure optimum inclusion of the latest technology into the day-to-day operations of a business entity to best cater to the consumers and curb competition and sometimes redefine approaches.
What characterizes a Technology leader?
A Technology Leader has to pay heed to the nitty gritty’s of a function, team and the organization as a whole. Although the array of responsibilities is large, there are five distinguished characteristics that a digital leader is touted to have:
Digital leaders in today’s time and era are viewed as agile leaders than non-agile leaders. This agility gives them higher responsibility and a sense of inclusion in the system. Four characteristics distinguish an agile leader from a non-agile leader:
Agile Leaders additionally indicate key behaviours that help them to navigate disruptive environments successfully:
An effective Technology leader follows certain principles:
If one were to draw a comparison between a leader from the industrial era with that of a leader in the digital era it would leave us thinking of how much has changed on the face of it yet not so much at the fundamental value.
The 18th century marked the onset of the industrial age but the era in its true sense only began in the early 20th century when industrial technology was combined with management.
In this leadership style, there was a steep hierarchy of authority. The top management was in charge and the power trickled downwards. There was a bureaucratic structure to the work, staff filled roles and followed rules. Internally, the mindset was results-oriented and efficiency-oriented. There was a bureaucratic structure to the work, staff filled roles and followed rules. Internally, the mindset was results-oriented and efficiency-oriented.
What leaders do in the digital era is almost the opposite of management in the industrial era. In order to replace the steep vertical hierarchy of authority, a horizontal network of competence is needed - a network of self-organizing teams that can change direction as needed. An external focus on value for customers is needed, rather than an internal focus on outputs and efficiency. It is imperative that digital leadership engages not only the brain but also the heart, through inspiration and collaboration, in order to realize the full potential of those who do the work. This year has been as exciting as ever, post-covid things have drastically changed; here are the trends that are driving the C-level hiring of tech leaders in 2022.
If one were to ask what an ideal Technology leader in the digital era looks like, there are a few pointers to keep in mind:
Our everyday habits and our overall lifestyles are being impacted by technology. Leaders and leadership styles have also gradually evolved. With tech inclusion betterment of society has become a necessity and the leaders of today are inclined to act the part. With the changing times, it will be fascinating to document what other roles leaders will assume in the near future.
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