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The first is listening. It is a hoary cliché of management schools that a good boss knows how to listen. But this shouldn’t be merely an exercise in empathy. Listening to your employees at every level is one of the best paths to new insights. Precisely because the internet has made information so plentiful, your own team is likely to be full of ideas that should be tapped into. A leader who is sequestered in a corner office is missing out on the rich discussions bubbling a few floors below.
The second obligation that information creates for executives is to identify and mentor thought leaders. In the past, seeking out “high potential” employees typically meant looking for those who could climb the next rung of the management ladder. That remains important. But equally pressing is finding those employees who, though perhaps not the best managers, have the ability to digest and interpret information for others. Grooming these in-house ideas people helps foster a culture of openness to fresh thinking—the greatest energy an organisation can have.
The deluge of information is only going to rise. Leadership will increasingly mean leveraging that information, clarifying it, and using it to advance your strategy, engage customers and motivate employees. Business stakeholders are interested not only in your products and services, but also in your ideas.
So, welcome the information flood. Those who learn how to keep their head above it will be the most effective leaders.
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