When I think about this topic, I can’t help but notice one thing – and that is that the term “leader” is slightly term, although many organizations, sciences and individuals are still dealing with this phenomenon in people management. This is especially interesting when it comes to communications. First and foremost, communication has fundamentally changed with the development of digital, where each of us is a medium for ourselves and has a boundless field of possibilities to position ourselves as someone who has something important to say and make an impact. But not only that… Today, it is virtually unnecessary to have previous knowledge and talent to achieve that, and sometimes it is even enough to encourage yourself in that direction and get going. So, we come to the conclusion that anyone can be an influencer or even a leader in an area; that is on a micro-level. They are still exceptions to the rule, but they also exist and we cannot skip that dimension.
In terms of systems, whether companies or agencies dealing with marketing and communications in general, leaders are people who inspire and give vision to their teams to think creatively and who create such an environment that they can express and realize it. That already sounds significant. However, there is also a big problem that we face in the market. Classically “strong” and “positioned” leaders have been present on the market for many years with their agencies or companies. All of them are members of various associations, they have big clients, everyone already knows them, they have established and proven themselves, but they are also members of a generation and ideas that have less and less influence in the communication-related change that is inevitable to happen. The “PRoblem” lies in the fact that there has been no generational shift, that is, there are no new leaders, who would continue to take over their roles and significance. In fact, the understanding of that word has fundamentally changed. When I think about why this is so, I come to two important conclusions that stand out.
The first is the absence of strong ambition that is driven by social status and is more focused on the personal development of the individual. The generation of new communication leaders is the generation that does not dream of having a strong social status and influence or power, and to be close and in the company of the people who are just like them, because it wants to progress more through work and deeds and moving and uniting people around their idea which, if conditions are right, will materialize. They are less concerned with progressing by climbing the social ladder.
The second conclusion is found in the very definition of the word “leader”. The world of innovation that we are witnessing, which has been created and intensified by digitalization, shows us every day how much teamwork, spirit and connection are more important than any individual, their abilities, vision, network or knowledge. Each of us is responsible for ourselves, our development and progress, and especially in a world that is changing rapidly and continuously, where today’s knowledge is already history. When joining a team, each of us should give our full contribution, motivation and desire, express ourselves and communicate clearly. The reason why we are team members is that it is easier for us to have a stronger influence and create change as one. In such a team, each person can be a leader, that is, they are qualified to be one, which further creates great chances for team members to be allocated in the way they choose and personally want and which ultimately corresponds more to their nature.
Change happens by knowing that each of them can be a leader, which boosts the self-confidence of each individual and gives them greater freedom to choose the role in which they can be the most productive and contribute the most. This is where we can conclude that a good team is one in which all members are leaders – and this is the answer to the initial question. Leaders today are people who do not want to be the best, but people who do their best to support both their development and the development of the people with whom they share that path, either internally or externally. They do not care about distinctions and titles. For them, it is important to contribute and to be able to see the same value among the people with whom they share the team. In some situations they are at the helm, in others, they leave it to their colleagues, sometimes by retiring, but they always have the same goal – to make everyone around them feel like leaders at all times, i.e. that they are all equally important, useful and influential.