CHAPTER 1
WHY DIGITAL AGILE LEADERSHIP MATTERS
To thrive in the new world of work, you need to become a digital agile leader.
Digital agile leaders are self-aware, forward-thinking, curious, and adaptable. They question the status quo and have empathy for themselves and others. They recognize each person is on a unique journey of awareness, resistance, and acceptance.
Digital agile leaders are good listeners, question-askers, and big-picture thinkers. They understand that adaptability is chronic, not once-and-done. They are curious about technology and the change it can bring.
HOW MUCH TIME AT WORK?
One-third of a lifetime. This is the amount of time the average person spends at work.
1 As medical advancements prolong our life span, that duration could increase. Given how much time we spend at work, it makes sense to want some of that time to feel meaningful and enjoyable.
Yet, according to a 2022 Gallup survey, 60 percent of people are emotionally detached at work and 19 percent are miserable.
2 Leaders can examine what is happening beneath the surface and evaluate if there are ways to make work more engaging, or at least
less miserable.
With the rapid acceleration of technology combined with the pressure to influence societal change, leaders like you are grappling with how to attract, develop, and retain talent. There are many unknowns and no one-size-fits-all playbook. While you may not be able to retain every employee, you can take steps to improve the experience and lean into change. At the same time, you do not want to burn out and sacrifice your well-being.
How do you want to be remembered as a leader? How will you lead others through change?
NAVIGATING A CHANGING WORLD
The answers are not easy and neither is change. Think about what is changing in your life. Perhaps you are relocating, reinventing yourself, or re-evaluating where you spend your time and energy. As you embark on a new path, you might look for signs of encouragement and ask yourself:Where am I headed? How will life be different? Who do I want to be?
As you drift through periods of intense transition, it can feel disorienting and overwhelming. Patterns are disrupted,