Technology is only becoming more advanced by the year, from sophisticated databases to increasingly mobile working opportunities. Therefore, the future of effective leadership has, by default, become synonymous with tech savviness. This ongoing adaptation will come naturally for some leaders, but for others, the pace of it all can seem daunting.
If you fall into the latter group, it is crucial to take the necessary steps to broaden and diversify your tech knowledge; this, in turn, will set an ambitious standard for your workplace. Here are a few quick tips to hit the ground running.
Avoid self-deprecation
Modern workplace technology, like many aspects of business leadership, is an easy path to toxic self-deprecation if left unchecked; its numerous layers and complexities can create a mindset of self-doubt and inferiority — especially when referenced in comparison to other, more tech-stable competitors. Before you even blueprint ideas for technological change, be sure to address these mental hurdles, identifying that you, the leader, must embody confidence and optimism to shift the broader company culture around the changes in question.
Identify a need
A company can thrive as a result of technological innovation, but it can also suffer setbacks if this innovation is contrived or unnecessary. The latter is a common, albeit avoidable tragic flaw for many of today’s aspiring businesses; they invest heavily in technologies or advancements that end up doing more harm than good.
To avoid such catastrophes, invest instead in proper planning and internal auditing, taking all existing deficiencies, inconveniences, and outdated functionalities into account when plotting a list of potential changes. For instance, if cybersecurity is a ticking time bomb in your company’s current layout, it may be time to add a new cloud-based storage infrastructure to brace for breaches and secure crucial company data.
Take risks
Since much of prevailing technology remains amorphous or untapped, risk taking has become pivotal in driving change and disrupting what is stagnant. To remain consistent with this notion, strive to become a more risk-oriented leader when applicable or constructive, empowering your workers to explore innovative, unconventional ideas that may benefit the company at large. “The digital age does not wait for perfection,” so occasional leaps into the technological unknown must be normalized and expected.