It’s been quite a while now that we’ve seen workplaces suffer from autocratic styles of leadership, one where there are central powers making decisions, and employee involvement is minimal. However, there now seems to be a shift in thinking patterns, as organizations are growing towards larger teams where many now work remotely and dynamics have increased.
A survey by McKinsey found that 56% of employees have hybrid schedules and a high percentage among them believe they are more productive that way. This suggests that people now need employers who understand autonomy and trust the workforce to do what they were hired for.
As an example, Steve Jobs in his earlier years was known for this past style of leadership, where he wanted complete control over Apple’s products. On the other hand, Jeff Bezos of Amazon is a mix, where he encourages participation from employees.
It’s no secret that larger teams are now needed to handle growing operations. But does the same old autocratic leadership still work today?
The Role of Strategic Thinking
We live in an era where change and uncertainty are a given, the saying adapt or crumble applies to organizations now more than ever and so the ability to think strategically differs good leaders from poor ones. Leaders must be aware of how to wade through complex situations where old approaches no longer work.
To put strategic thinking in plain terms: we can analyze the situations we are in and think of ways to get ourselves out unscathed. This is especially needed in organizations with large team sizes because everyone has opinions and different perspectives and expertise must be kept in mind accordingly.
Now, people in general and leaders particularly feel the need to master strategic thinking. Some might say that if a leader had to have one hobby it should be poker given its value in learning how to think strategically, make calculated steps, and so on.
We know the growing trend of poker in the modern world, and most people explain this with the digitization of the game amid the rise of online platforms. However, poker holds its status among gamers thanks to its ability to push the limits of strategic thinking first. And players, especially if they are team leaders, appreciate this. But it’s also interesting to see the patterns players show in the gaming field: Many of them opt for Omaha poker for real money or just for entertainment, and this tells something interesting about people’s habits.
In reality, Omaha is a more complex variant of a traditional poker game. The growing popularity of uneasy games reveals the tendency people have to enhance the limits of their strategic thinking and use their skills to solve problems that have real-life impacts.
Balancing Authority and Collaboration in the Digital Era
The digital work-life has been faced with the challenge where leadership must find a balance between authority while ensuring a collaborative environment is present. Remote and hybrid options in particular have caused us to re-evaluate just how effective traditional leadership styles are.
While flexible work arrangements are available more widely now, many leaders still struggle to adapt their management ways to deal with these. A study found that those who are used to controlling and micromanaging find it difficult to give up their ‘powers’. However, this sacrifice is now needed so that trust in the workplace can blossom.
When a culture around collaboration is built, companies will have an edge over their competitors and will also promote teamwork, leading to higher employee satisfaction levels.
The Impact of AI on Decision-Making and Leadership Dynamics
Since artificial intelligence has become increasingly mainstream now, organization leaders feel compelled to integrate these tools into their frameworks which presents both opportunities and challenges.
AI has far-reaching benefits, such as allowing for faster data-driven decisions, which enables leaders to make informed choices according to the needs of the company. PWC reported that 70% of management believe that AI will change how they conduct and approach business needs.
AI encourages a democratic approach where collaboration and input from the team are appreciated for deriving insights. This is contradictory to autocratic style beliefs, another reason why this leadership fails in modern times.
Remote Work: Does Physical Distance Dilute Leadership Power?
One of the biggest drawbacks of remote work, particularly within large teams, is the lack of face-to-face interactions which causes isolation. The majority of remote workers, as reported by many publications, face issues of stress and burnout. This is partly due to isolation, but also because remote work sometimes requires you to dedicate time outside of official work hours.
The disconnect that arises here can limit the ability of leaders to inspire and motivate their teams. However, as virtual environment workstyles increase, the leaders of today must shift their management styles and tackle the challenge effectively. Since there is no physical monitoring of your team, successful leaders now choose to empower employees by trusting them and giving flexibility.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that team dynamics are shifting, and evolving beyond what was previously considered the norm. And so this new era calls for new leadership styles, one that understands that modern leaders must embrace collaboration and transparency to grow further.
Autocratic styles may still hold some relevance, but only under specific contexts. In general, it’s far better for organizations to find a balance by using their team and the technologies at their service to find that optimal sweet spot.
