Leadership 4.0
The management culture in German companies has its traditional strengths and characteristics. Digitalization, artificial intelligence and accelerated internationalization require a rethink and a departure from previous ways of working.
The leadership mantra of the 80s and 90s is outdated. Leadership in the 21st century demands a new paradigm; today's managers put people at the center.
The 21st century is creating trends that make leadership an increasingly complicated task
- The digital revolution with AI is changing all industries and business models. Managers must reduce existing fears, involve and motivate employees. They must reinforce the confidence that there is more to gain than to lose in the digital world and that there will be no "transparent employees".
- Technical innovations permeate products, production, processes, business models and the organization. Global thinking, a positive error culture, a willingness to learn and change, increased problem-solving skills and a radical customer focus are required.
- Industry 4.0 - As the world's leading factory supplier, Germany wants to be the market leader for digitally networked production and the Internet of Things. The networking of production calls for more overall system experts.
- Bureaucracy is becoming a rapidly growing obstacle.
- The shortage of skilled workers is forcing companies to increase their attractiveness if they want to attract and retain the best young managers and the skilled workers of tomorrow in technical professions.
- For German companies, diversity in education means a holistic understanding of leadership with academically and dual-trained employees who regularly undergo further training.
- GEN X (1965-1979), GEN Y (1980-1995), GEN Z (1996-2010) are technology-savvy generations who grew up with the internet and social media and are aware of the superiority of networks compared to centrally organized hierarchies. For them, the focus is on finding meaning and on people.
- Information sources from the exploding social media make leadership that connects the generations even more complicated.
- COVID crisis with long-term consequences without reliable empirical values.
- Climate change with high conflict potential.