As someone who has moderated many Advatera meetings over the years, I believe that digital leadership is about combining knowledge, experience, and passion. However, what sets a true digital leader apart is their ability to share this knowledge, experience, and passion with their team, and inspire a sense of ownership and purpose in their work.
Digital leadership is about more than just understanding the latest technologies. It is about leveraging those technologies to achieve business goals and inspiring your team to do the same. Digital leaders are not only strategic thinkers who understand the big picture of their company’s goals and how technology can help achieve them, but they are also empathetic and able to connect with their team on a human level. In the digital age, it is essential to balance technology with human qualities to be an effective digital leader.
A key aspect of digital leadership is the ability to communicate effectively. Digital leaders should be able to explain complex technical concepts in simple terms that non-technical team members easy understand. They can identify the benefits of adopting new technologies and will inspire their team to embrace them.
Another important trait of digital leaders is adaptability. In the fast-paced world of technology, change is constant. Good digital leaders are able to adapt quickly to new technologies and trends and help their team do the same.
Tips for Aligning and Motivating Your Team
Aligning and motivating your team is especially important to be successful in the world of digital technologies. Here are some tips to help you lead your team effectively:
- Set clear goals, expectations and responsibilities. Make sure every team member knows what is expected of them and what they are working towards together as team. Clear goals and expectations will help your team stay focused and motivated.
- Empower your team. Digital technologies offer many opportunities for individuals to take ownership of their work and make a real impact. Give your team the tools and resources they need to succeed and empower them to take ownership of their projects.
- Foster a culture of collaboration. Collaboration is essential in the world of digital technologies. Encourage your team to work together and share knowledge and ideas.
- Recognize and reward good work. Give your employees a stage by highlighting their successes in digital initiatives. Recognizing and rewarding your team’s successes can be a powerful motivator. Take the time to acknowledge your team’s hard work and celebrate their successes.
- Encourage continuous learning. The world of technology is constantly evolving, and it’s essential that your team keeps up. Encourage your team to pursue professional development opportunities and provide them with the resources they need to learn new skills.
What You Should Do Now to Align and Motivate Your Team
To be a better digital leader, it’s important to take concrete actions. Here are some ideas that you can implement immediately:
- Foster a culture of innoviation and experimentation by providing dedicated time (such as one half-day every two weeks) and a budget (such as a one-time 500 euro allowance per person) to explore new approaches and technologies starting this week. Encourage them to share their findings and insights with the rest of the team.
- Schedule one-on-one get-togethers with team members to check in on their progress and offer support, starting today or tomorrow. These meetings don’t have to be formal sit-downs in the office: Consider taking team members out for lunch or a coffee to create a relaxed and informal setting where they can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. It is also an opportunity for you to learn from your team members and gather insights and feedback. Keep an open mind – you never know, your new intern or entry-level team member might have great ideas and perspectives to share. Consider who you have not met with in a while. Don’t put it off – give them a call now and invite them to a get-together to catch up and strengthen your team’s relationships.
- Provide opportunities for professional development, such as training sessions, conferences, or mentorship programs. Remember that professional development can also be fun and social. If you’re not already a member of the Advatera community of practice, you might consider signing up with your team.
- Take action now and post about a digital success of your team or an individual team member in your team’s chat or on your company’s intranet to recognize and celebrate their achievements. Don’t wait! This will foster a sense of pride and ownership in their work and motivate others to share their own ideas and accomplishments.
Digital leadership is about combining knowledge, experience, and passion with effective communication, adaptability, and collaboration. If you’re interested in learning more about digital leadership, you might want to attend the Digital Leadership Conference, which takes place in Vienna on September 18th and 19th, 2023. At the conference, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from other digital leaders who share their insights and experiences on this important topic.
