Exciting career opportunities lie ahead for students in various fields: science, technology, business, management, engineering, arts, education, video gaming, and more.
Importance of thinking about leadership, regardless of career aspirations.
Leadership as a Journey
Leadership is a journey, not a destination.
Decisions about jobs, locations, organizations, and careers are like choosing new pathways.
Leaders often fail to consider new pathways in career changes, bringing past strengths that may not fit new roles.
Case Study: John
John, a successful crisis manager, struggled with authoritative leadership style in a steady-state business environment.
Received feedback to adapt leadership style to suit the new environment.
Leadership in a VUCA World
VUCA: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous.
Added elements for 21st-century leadership: Diversity and Disruption.
Diversity encompasses gender, cultural, and generational aspects.
Disruption affects traditional businesses and ideas.
Leadership Altitudes
Concept by Ram Charan: Three leadership altitudes.
50,000 feet: Big-picture thinking, envisioning future trends, and creating vision.
50 feet: Tactical level, day-to-day execution and implementation.
5 feet: Self-awareness, understanding personal strengths and weaknesses.
Examples of Leadership at Different Altitudes
50,000 feet: Visionary leaders like Warren Buffett, Elon Musk, and historical figures like Marie Curie.
50 feet: Leaders like Larry Bossidy, focusing on execution and talent development.
5 feet: Leaders like Chade-Meng Tan at Google, emphasizing mindfulness and self-awareness.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness: Leaders trapped at one altitude, leading to inefficiency.
50 feet: Leaders focused on short-term goals, resistant to change (e.g., Kodak).
50,000 feet: Dreamers who lack execution (e.g., frequent vision changes without action).
5 feet: Self-centered, egotistical leaders.
Conclusion
Leadership is a personal journey with challenges and opportunities.
Importance of practicing leadership across different altitudes from the start of one's career.
Encouragement to engage in big-picture thinking, tactical execution, and self-reflection.
Support through coaching, feedback, and introspection is crucial.
Aim to avoid altitude sickness and embrace leadership diversity.