In short, today’s leadership is going to transform corporate culture and hierarchical relationships.
Some of my favorites from Fortune’s list and why:
#1 Tim Cook, CEO of Apple: Along with Fortune’s writers and leadership experts, Fortune also sought the opinion of last year’s top 50, asking them to nominate who they thought should make the 2015 list. Tim Cook got the most nominations from all the research sources.
Fortune quotes: “There is no true preparation for replacing a legend, but that’s what Tim Cook had to do three-and-a-half years ago following the death of Steve Jobs.”
Stepping into the shoes of Steve Jobs must have been a daunting task – Tim Cook did it with humble determination.
#10 Joshua Wong: Perhaps the best example of what Fortune is predicting on followership, Joshua Wong is the 17 year old who started the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong armed only with a cell phone, bringing the city to a standstill for three months.
Whether you agree with his principles or not, it shows the power of leadership in today’s hectic and volatile world.
Even though the essence of leadership is shifting, human nature means people still want to be led, but in more of a style like Mike Duggan and Tri Rishaharini, Mayors of troubled cities, Detroit and Surabaya, and #20 and #24 on the list, respectively. Their “I see the way to a better future, follow me” leadership style inspired the cities to change.
Whether you respond to insights shared by my friends and colleagues from around the world, or get inspired by one Fortune’s 50 Greatest Leaders, the world of leadership is shifting for sure. Command and control will no longer cut it, and let’s be honest, that can be a dominant preference in corporate hierarchies, especially in the Middle East.
Are you going to be a leader of the present and the future….or the past?
Hazel Jackson is CEO of Biz-Group, a leading training and development company based in Dubai. Hazel’s primary role is to scour the globe for the latest training and talent development tools, resources and systems to figure out what is needed in the Middle East. Her nickname in the company and native genius is “What’s Next?”
COLUMN - What's Next?