Editor's Note

Welcome to the October issue of Leadership Excellence. Although the world is still reeling under the grip of Covid-19, organizations have adapted to stay operating in the changing world. The uncertain future makes it difficult for leaders to find their footing but it is also an opportunity to show real leadership.

In today’s instant gratification world, people/employees/leaders want things to change immediately. Every leader, team and organization wants to snap their fingers and magically arrive at their desired outcomes. However, developing people and culture doesn’t happen like that. There is no quick fix or hack to developing leaders and the team culture you desire. The process to create your culture requires 6 A’s and participatory leadership. Read the cover article by Jason V. Barger, Does Your Corporate Culture Get All A’s? to learn more about the proactive process to shape the team culture you want.

Do leaders need to change the way they lead in the wake of this pandemic? Given the challenges leaders will face in the ensuing months and years, it’s an extremely important question, says Captain Mark Brouker in his article, Leading In The New World Of Work.

Leading any team under any circumstance is not easy. But when the entire team is remote, leaders face a host of challenges. So, when a leader has zero face time with her team, what changes? To learn about the 3 basics to guarantee an effective team, read Dale S. Rose’s article, Does Leading A Remote Team Change Everything Or Is Team Leadership The Same As It Ever Was?

The new world we’re entering has flipped everything upside down. The skills, mindsets, and ways of being that were once prized and sought after have actually become liabilities. We must all be able to continuously learn, unlearn, and relearn by adapting to the reality of the world as it evolves. Check out Ed Hess’ article, Seven “Old-School” Workplace Strengths That Are Now Weaknesses, to learn about the seven skills and attitudes that not long ago might have gotten you a corner office—but may now get you fired.

Rather than viewing work as another source of strain, the workplace should serve as a balm to pandemic fears. But, to successfully drive an engaged and happy workforce, leaders must rethink the way they approach employee management - with empathy and purpose at the forefront. Peter Jackson’s article, Making The Workplace An Epicenter Of Optimism puts forth four ways leaders can get started.

In brief, this issue includes articles that offer various leadership strategies to help leaders navigate the pandemic and recovery. We hope you enjoy reading all the articles and look forward to receiving your feedback.

Last but not least, we believe that there is no better way to connect with people than by sharing your leadership story. If you have one, send it to us.  

Happy Reading!