How Leaders Can Become Better Human Beings In 2020

When the climate emotions of “Fridays for Future” meet tough business interests, even a respected CEO like Siemens boss Joe Kaeser looks pretty old. While I was still patting the last snowflakes of the holidays in my Norwegian homeland from my shoulders and thinking about whether the ecological collapse is also becoming more noticeable in Røros from year to year, the new year delivered the first battle of “eco-hysteria” vs. the business elite. What initially looked like an offer of reconciliation from Joe Kaeser when he offered Fridays-For-Future organizer and German climate politician Lisa Neubauer a position on the supervisory board, ended in what turned out to be a climate knockout for Europe’s largest industrial manufacturing company. It made it clear that young euphoria or even hysteria cannot be tamed by supposedly strategic moves from the “old economy” era.

How to find the synthesis between economy and ecology and how to deal correctly with the “Gretas” and “Luisas” of this world will be the central question of the “Q-Economy” of the new 20s. How can managers become real leaders and master these challenges?

So at the verge of a new decade and the beginning of a new year, here are a few thoughts on what Leadership in 2020 should be about. 

For me this is also a wish list for the 50th World Economic Forum in Davos and a cheat sheet for Joe Kaeser and Luisa Neubauer alike:

• Define your style and narrow in on what you stand for (and what you love)

In 2019 there were definitely too many people who were against something and who constantly had something to criticize. The success model now seems to be defined by criticism of others and the pursuit of others’ weaknesses and mistakes. And if one wants to achieve something, one must be radical and provoke. But, there is another way.

I am often asked what the greatest challenges are. I do not like this question. I am not looking for the hurdles, but for the possibilities and opportunities. Instead of focusing on what separates us, the focus should be on what connects and unites us. We should focus on the possible. Define your style and outline two, max three values, which define You. Stand up for something, something you burn for and love. Carry this vision to the people with your full power and passion. We need people with passionate, honest and positive visions. In such cases, employees and citizens are happy to forgive mistakes if something goes wrong. 

• Be self-critical and not just critical with others

We are all shaped by our environment, origin and past. Nothing is more important than to self-critically question and validate our points of view and opinions over and over again. Why do I see it this way? On what assumptions are my opinions built? We all have biases. Find them, take a different perspective and find out why you think like you do. Find people with different opinions and try to understand their point of view. Free yourself from dogmas and own biases.

• Respect people with less authority than you have

In 2019 I met many people who earn far too much in relation to what they have achieved – and who take themselves way too seriously. The sad thing about this is that they often behave accordingly.

How do you deal with the young colleague at the check-in counter in the hotel, or the waitress in the restaurant if something doesn’t go according to what you want? When you are standing in the priority-line at the airport, you don’t have to act like an asshole if you can’t get straight through, or if you accidentally have someone from economy-class in front of you. These character traits are often reflected by managers when dealing with employees in their companies. My basic tenor is clear: I am not interested in doctoral and professional degrees, titles and roles, your annual income or ego. I am interested in how you deal with people with the least authority.

I don’t want to live in a world where “being nice” is a sign of weakness, and that’s exactly what good leadership should be about.

• Be humble (to what you possess and have achieved) 

Because it’s all luck. Yes, there’s certainly a lot of hard work involved, but at the end of the day your life is a cosmic lottery of coincidences; that you were born (at all), what you experienced, how your body is put together and so on. A series of unbelievable coincidences, both small and large. Don’t forget that when the subject and ego take over, and when you think you are the one creative genius and believe to master something called free will. It is not so, because life is a coincidence. Appreciate that and share that happiness with the people around you. A successful leader can never take himself unimportant enough. 

• Do not focus on happiness

It’s not about the pursuit of happiness. It’s about being less unhappy. Happiness is a by-product. Keep yourself busy and aim to make other people happy and allow your happiness to find you. The Dalai Lama once said very aptly: “If it were possible to become free of negative emotions by risk-free insertion of an electrode, I would be the first patient – without compromising intelligence and critical mind”. Technology will make many things possible, but we should be careful with it and ask ourselves what we really want.

• It doesn’t have to be the great “American dream” for everyone.

Cartesian individualism from the USA should never become a model for all. Europe for example, is already much further. It is about the collective and common. Many analogies like “A team is only as strong as its weakest link” are learned and heard from the experts. But even more important is the appreciation of normality. Creating participatory cultures, promoting togetherness and focusing on the input. If you follow this, you will also get a good output. An extraordinary year or an extraordinary life will happen by itself if we learn to appreciate the wonders of the ordinary (normality).

• Be a teacher – share your knowledge

Lifelong learning and curiosity is the key to success. Be a teacher and share your knowledge with others. This will not only increase knowledge within the company, but also allows you to learn while you teach. Experience-based learning is the basis for lasting personal development and change.

• Deep squats for the brain and thinking hours

Stay fit, both in terms of nutrition and especially through sport to keep your body in shape. Physical health is essential to cope with stress and should be the focus of managers in the 21st century. However, don’t forget some deep squats for the brain. At least one hour of thinking per week (or day) should be fixed in your calendar. As a regular appointment like your visit to the gym. Due to the rapid development of technology we are turning more and more into digital reaction junkies. However, in order to master the upcoming challenges we need not only perfect knowledge but also understanding. Stay healthy for your 100-year journey – your hardware must work – but rediscover the art of thinking. The symbiosis of heart and mind is essential. 

• The project is the boss

And finally, “The Boss” has had its day. Management today is shifting to algorithms, technology and smart tools. The project is the new boss. We are only as successful as the project is performing. Leadership is not “at the top”, it is everywhere in teams and companies today, we just have to free this leader.

In 2020 it should be about the tears in moments of sadness, the smiles and the joy of acquiring new knowledge or skills – and about the small and ordinary things that bring us to life.

In 2020 it should be about the joy of tasting the fresh snow, the wonders of the polar stratospheric clouds and the lights in the old wooden houses where families play a board game together.

In 2020, it should be about remembering that the little things are actually the big things and make all the difference.

2020 should be about appreciating the ordinary and dealing with the people around you. In a world without a defined agenda and overarching purpose, you can never take yourself unimportant enough.

To a year of developing true leaders. And to a year of CEOs and climate change activists working together.

#Leadership2020