It’s been a month in the new year and it still feels like we’re having a second go-around at 2021. We all have our own hopes and dreams for the future and this is a time when we are all looking forward to how we will improve. But for some of us, it can feel hard to see the new year this way when we are still living through a pandemic that refuses to go away. But better leadership waits for no pandemic to pass, so let’s dive right into what makes a good leader in 2022!

In order to be an effective leader in the new era of hybrid work, you need to be able to adapt to change and be open to new ideas. This is especially true in the business world, where the only constant is change. If you’re not able to adapt and keep up with the latest trends, you’ll be left behind. And if you’re not open to new ideas, you’ll never be able to come up with innovative solutions to problems.

Adaptability is the new norm

In order to survive and be successful in today’s constantly changing world, it is essential to be adaptable. Adaptability means being able to change and adjust to new circumstances which are constantly being dished out in a reactive world where organizations are trying to keep up with evolving employee needs to stay productive, attractive, and aspirational to clients and potential employees. Leaders who can take a stance and quickly adapt to changes in their environment are more likely to drive success for the organizations.

The ability to adapt is also important in professional relationships. Those who are able to change and compromise when working with cross-functional teams are more likely to have lasting and successful career growth trajectories..

Do the new

This is important because it reminds us that we should never stop learning and that we should always be willing to try new things, right? But productivity lies in consistency, so how can we constantly change and become better at the same time? Here’s a quick-start guide to get you going:

Step 1: Always be open to learning at all stages of your career

One of the most important steps to becoming a successful learner is to be open to learning new things. In order to do this, you have to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and explore new topics and subjects. You also need to be willing to try new approaches to learning and be open to new ideas. If you can do this, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a lifelong learner.

Step 2: Experiment, apply your learnings and be willing to try new things

Learning is not enough if you can’t apply it! The trick is to dive right into it while you learn. This might seem scary at first, but it’s worth it to expand your horizons. Be open to new experiences and you’ll learn a lot about yourself and the world around you.

Step 3: Be patient with yourself while learning

In the era of constant change, we are driven by our impatience. But it can take time to get the hang of things, and if you get frustrated, you’re likely to give up. Instead, focus on having fun with the process and taking things one step at a time. With practice, you’ll get better and better at imbibing better leadership values. Step 4: Be persistent in learning

We all know the tale of the tortoise and the hare. But a persistent hare could have easily outpaced the tortoise, don’t you think? So if you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to take it slow and keep asking questions until you do. If you’re having trouble with a task, keep practising until you get it right. Never give up on learning new things, because you’ll never know everything. The more you learn, the more you’ll be able to do and the more you’ll be able to achieve. This means, you may start as the tortoise but through persistence, you’ll outpace the hare soon enough!

We all know the tale of the tortoise and the hare. But a persistent hare could have easily outpaced the tortoise, don’t you think? So if you don’t understand something, don’t hesitate to take it slow and keep asking questions until you do. If you’re having trouble with a task, keep practising until you get it right. Never give up on learning new things, because you’ll never know everything. The more you learn, the more you’ll be able to do and the more you’ll be able to achieve. This means, you may start as the tortoise but through persistence, you’ll outpace the hare soon enough!

Communicating effectively, platform-agnostically

While this is handy advice for leadership in any year, this takes on a much more important role as organizations move towards a future of permanently hybrid work. It is important to be able to communicate effectively in order to get your point across to the other person, whether he or she is sitting in-person across the table, or thousands of miles away on a video call — the latter being the more challenging subject. We all face Zoom fatigue after a long day of video calls. But effectively communicating despite the traditional body language cues and setting aside our evolutionary familiarity with in-person engagement can help engage your listeners and build a stronger rapport.

I hope this blog has been an interesting look into what some of the most important leadership practices are needed this year. At Mentoring Matters, we are proud of our legacy in nurturing better leaders in the industry for over a decade, and we’re looking forward to usher in better leadership practices for the new era as well.

If you are responsible for leadership in your organization across any level, whether you are a CEO, manager, supervisor, or team leader, you might have questions about what the future holds for effective leadership. That’s where we come in! Drop us a follow on LinkedIn or reach out to us at information@mentoring-matters.com and get started on your journey to nurturing better leadership practices.

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PREETI PRAYAG

Preeti Prayag is the co-founder of Mentoring Matters, a platform for businesses and individuals across industries to drive holistic professional growth across mid and senior-level positions through dedicated coaching by certified professionals.