WCEOhq Radio

Leadership in the 21st Century

Who wants to start? The question on the table is: what does leadership look like in the 21st century? Is it the same as it was in the 20th century? If not – and I believe it’s not the same – how is it different?

Ask your executive committee what leadership looks like in the 21st century and they’ll likely describe it using words like “innovative” and “creative.” They might offer descriptions that include phrases like “focus for results” or “focus on tomorrow.” Regardless of what your executive committee believes, and regardless of what the pundits writing about leadership say, reality always wins.

In the real world, the world we all get up and go out to work in, leadership in the 21st century defies conventional thinking. Here on WCEOhq-Radio, we’ll be uncovering the myths and missteps of clinging to old-fashioned 20th century business models, and we’ll have discussions on insight into the new business model. Engaged in those discussions will be dozens of smart, forward-thinking CEOs.

We invite you to attend our radio show to hear from active CEOs with unique perspectives on leadership in the 21st century. Some will be bringing years of experience as entrepreneurs to the discussion. Others will share the stepping stones that brought them success over a period of many years, and still other CEOs will challenge your thinking with pointed discussions on the on the new rules of business in a digital world – a world increasingly based on the growing need to engage both front-line employees and customers in the core values and the real purpose of the company.

This isn’t your grandfather’s business. Maybe it’s time to contemplate whether it’s your son’s or your daughter’s business and if so, what does that mean?

We welcome your thoughts and feedback. Join us.

Cooking Up Success

Who doesn’t love a good lasgna? I’m reminded of this great Italian recipe by the previous post – noting that good leadership is not so much the ingredients of a great recipe as it is the actions of a great cook. Anyone who knows their way around a kitchen will remember that every good cook has a different recipe for lasagna. This much sauce, this much ricotta, a stack of fat egg noodles – and each cook adds their own spices, to make their own dish.

And, even new cooks can create masterpieces.

Life has a way of throwing rocks at you, if you stand in one place too long. Having been hit by my own share of rocks, I learned early on that it’s my job to create the recipe of my life, to design my leadership process. It’s okay to be guided by the previous generation’s success; to adapt old routines into new ones. But, it’s not okay to think the franchise model of business works the same for everyone.

I routinely tackle new ideas and concepts with vigor. New is not necessarily better, but it does offer unique perspective and an opportunity to turn ‘old’ on its head. With each “new” thought or innovation, the business landscape becomes cluttered with talk about what’s best, what’s worthwhile, what’s “today”. Same old, same old. Bookstores are replete with stacks of cookbooks, and yet, some people will never create that delicious lasagna no matter how much instruction they get. And some will glance at the recipe, only long enough to memorize the main ingredients.

Which cook are you? Which lasagna are you creating? Who works the hardest in your kitchen?