Cross Cutting Issue

Entrepreneurship Development

THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY ON LEADERSHIP

Technology has a powerful impact on every aspect of our lives. It has changed
the way we connect with each other. How we conduct our daily affairs and how
we do business. At a high management level, technology can be one of the
most useful tools to help you become a better leader. There is no question
about it: technology is the driving force behind the  new style of leadership.  A
leadership which embraces change, learning, communication and  diversity.
The most successful leaders at a worldwide level are those who understood just
how much technology can aid them in managing people. Helping  them build
teams and keeping track of work across all channels and in any location of the
world.
The new business world is made up of connected devices,  artificial intelligence,
and secure cloud business solutions. These enable teams to work together more
efficiently than ever and empower companies to expand their reach towards
new markets across the globe.
Now, let’s explore  some of the most meaningful ways in which technology
impacts and enhances your work as a leader:

1. Give Your Employees More Flexibility

When various companies offer similar packages of benefits to their employees,
what really makes the difference for a loyal employee is the work/life balance
they can expect to achieve. The modern business environment is decentralized.
Teams no longer need to be cooped up together in the same office building or
the same meeting room.
Projects can be worked on using various software solutions which
allow collaborative working in real time in a secure environment. Meetings can
take place over audio/video messaging suites. Thus, your employees can work
from the comfort of their homes. Alternatively, they can work from any other
location outside the office, which they find convenient and inducing more
productivity.
2. Manage People And Projects Anywhere, Anytime
Do you remember the old days when no important decision could be taken
because the CEO or the manager in charge was away on a business trip and
unreachable? Technology has made such scenes a thing of the past. Having
software suites installed on all devices (desktop, laptop, mobile phones).
Directors and managers can approve budgets, hold meetings, endorse
decisions. They can solve any other critical issues from the comfort of a hotel
room or in the lounge of a business convention venue.

3. Embrace Diversity And Expand On New Markets

Language barriers have been one of the top challenges for large companies
seeking expansion in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Many potential markets
and many potential talents which could work for you are beyond reach. This is
because they use a different alphabet from the Latin alphabet. Their English
speaking and writing skills are at the beginner level.
There are automatic translation tools available for almost all languages in the
world. Now you can do business and expand your branch offices even to
countries with challenging languages.

4. The New Leader Is An Influencer

Technology does not mean only advanced computing and IT solutions.   It also
means social media and the  new concept of social leadership. A leader now has
the most wide-reaching channels of communication available. They can
influence their employees, motivate their sales teams, build customer loyalty
and connect with peers through various social media platforms and blogging.

5. HR And Training Work Is Taken To A New Level

New employee induction and ongoing training sessions used to be extremely
burdensome for HR departments. Some of the employees had to be taken from
their daily tasks to conduct these activities, and productivity was disturbed in
more than one department.
New technologies make  employee induction, training, certification and
managing HR files a breeze. Through a dedicated software application, each
employee can chart and monitor their own learning path, submit progress
reports, and fill in peer review forms with minimum time and effort. In this
way, your entire organization has the ability to move forward and become more
efficient and productive.

At the same time, leaders have a simpler and more straightforward way of
monitoring teams and  allocating human resources  across various projects and
customer accounts

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042811018271