Future leaders

These high-flying individuals have a wealth of experience and wisdom to share on some of the most pressing issues facing those at the helm of any organization today. As the CEO of the Chartered Management Institute, Ruth Spellman uses this book to share their latest cutting-edge research and thinking.

According to Spellman’s research, there are nine foundations for long-term success that operate as a to-do list for managers.

The first is based on values. Managers need to put values and ethics at the heart of everything they do. They need to walk the talk and help employees understand how they can link their own personal values to corporate objectives. Accountability and transparency are very important in monitoring ethical performance.

The second foundation for success involves managing yourself as well as others. Managers need to devote sufficient time and attention to developing self-awareness and enhancing their personal toolkit of skills and competencies. They need to shift standards rather than achieving targets, and be equally prepared to accept responsibility for failure.

Managing change and uncertainty is the third foundation. Managers need to develop the skills to build cultures that are more accommodating of change. They need a high level of persuasive and communicative skills to help deal with internal politics and gain commitment, support and engagement from their teams to weather the many and constant changes that lie ahead.

The ability to manage stakeholders effectively has never been more important. Managers need to improve not only their understanding of stakeholders but their interaction with them.

Organizations urgently need to improve their preparedness for managing risk and ensuring business continuity. Managers need to shift away from the mindset where risk is about compliance and solving problems, towards an understanding that risk is a key business tool that can help them improve performance.

Organizations need to make environmentally sound behavior an integral part of everything they do. Managers need to increase their understanding of how to proactively manage with the welfare of the planet in mind.

Managers need to develop their understanding of how to stimulate innovative thinking and help their teams put new and creative ideas into practice. They need to break down the barriers that typically exist in organizations and find ways of opening the door to radical and transformative thinking.

Brand and reputation management is indispensable. Managers need to develop their understanding of how they can help to fully exploit and develop their organization’s brand.

The final foundation point is managing diversity. Managers need to learn how to utilize and embrace the diverse talents of their workforce. Diversity can help them to explore new markets and achieve sustainable growth.

In “Future Leaders” there are many checklists that help to make management measurable and, indeed, “manageable.” Every leader, established or aspiring, should undertake this corporate check-up.