What is your Online Leadership Style?

Peter Drucker, the founder of modern management believed that good leadership qualities and effective management went hand in hand. He said, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."

As we enter the digital era, we find that the concept of work and workplace environment have undergone a change. Moreover, innovation is at a high, consumer demands are varied and increasing and the leadership landscape has evolved. Experience and knowledge, once considered the hallmark of leadership are no longer the criteria (though they do count). Today online leaders are defined by the way they react to challenges and changes, how they constantly seek to keep ahead of the learning curve, how quickly they make decisions and how quickly they adapt to new tools and concepts.

Communication is the key

In any organizational setting, leaders are people who inspire and motivate the workforce to exceed expectations (their own and others) -- and in today's corporate settings, it is no different. However, in order to achieve that, the focus is on relationship building and eliminating barriers between management and leaders, and that means effective communication through videos, client directed platforms and blog posts.

This ensures that all the people have all the information they need to do their job effectivelyand are clear about what they need to do and what is expected of them. Leaders support teams in their endeavors, provide feedback that helps them improve and help them maintain a good work-life balance. By instilling a sense of shared ownership and shared vision, teams work harder and better.

Empowering individuals and teams

Online leaders must not only be sensitive to change but be flexible while developing and establishing norms and rules. By being aware of what workers need and what the company's goals are, they should set about creating an environment that coordinates and integrates the activities of individuals and teams, so that everyone feels strong and empowered. This means that everyone is working towards a single goal on a playing ground where the area is leveled.

Understand their role and build community

Good leaders are a committed lot—they have the confidence to win and help others move up the ladder, they are consistent in their approach and play fair. They tackle indiscipline, encourage teams and individuals and are firm when it comes to dealing with conflict. They instill a sense of responsibility and accountability in their team mates and hold them together.

Monitor their progress

There is no end to improvement and that’s why journaling has become a powerful leadership practice. Rather than considering it as a waste of time, journaling helps leaders get greater insights and knowledge into themselves and others. It encourages reflection and introspection that ultimately leads to effective action. In fact research has it that journaling improves health and wellbeing and improves stress levels too.

Thus we see that listening, analyzing, experimenting, standing tall when needed are some of the mantras that today's online leaders live by.