The Future Leader

9 Skills and Mindsets to

Succeed in the Next Decade

Jacob Morgan
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1

Chapter 1 – The Leadership Gap .......................................................................................................... 7

Learning Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 7
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 7
Leaders Today Are Struggling.............................................................................................................. 7
It’s Time to Change .............................................................................................................................. 8
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 10
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 11

Chapter 2 – Three Essential Leadership Questions........................................................................... 13

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 13
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 13
What Is Leadership and Who Is a Leader? ......................................................................................... 13
How CEOs Define Leadership ........................................................................................................... 14
What Are Your Leadership Filters?..................................................................................................... 15
Define Leadership.............................................................................................................................. 16
Leader or Manager? .......................................................................................................................... 17
Is the Leader of 2030 Really That Different Than the Leader of Today?.............................................. 17
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 19
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 20

Chapter 3 – The Impact of a Leader .................................................................................................... 21

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 21
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 21
How Great and Bad Leaders Influence You and Your Organization .................................................... 21
Toxic Leaders ................................................................................................................................ 22
Great Leaders................................................................................................................................ 22
We Need More Great Leaders ........................................................................................................... 23
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 24
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 25

Chapter 4 – Artificial Intelligence and Technology ............................................................................ 29

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 29
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 29
Are the Machines Going to Take Over?.............................................................................................. 30
Automating a Job Is Not Replacing a Human ..................................................................................... 30
What Leaders Do ............................................................................................................................... 31
How AI Will Impact Leadership........................................................................................................... 31
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 33
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 34

Chapter 5 – Pace of Change................................................................................................................ 35

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 35
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 35
Leading in a Future That Doesn’t Yet Exist......................................................................................... 35
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 37
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 38

Chapter 6 – Purpose and Meaning...................................................................................................... 39

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 39
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 39
Job, Purpose, Impact, Meaning .......................................................................................................... 39
Creating Purpose and Meaning .......................................................................................................... 41
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 43
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 44
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Chapter 7 – New Talent Landscape .................................................................................................... 45

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 45
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 45
The Massive Talent Shortage ............................................................................................................ 45
The Need to Upskill and Retrain......................................................................................................... 46
The Diversity and Inclusion Imperative ............................................................................................... 47
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 49
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 50

Chapter 8 – Morality, Ethics, and Transparency ................................................................................ 51

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 51
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 51
Ethics versus Morals .......................................................................................................................... 51
The Impact of an Ethical Leader......................................................................................................... 52
Leaders Must Be Transparent ............................................................................................................ 53
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 55
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 56

Chapter 9 – Globalization .................................................................................................................... 57

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 57
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 57
Diversity and Curiosity Are Key .......................................................................................................... 57
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 59
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 60

Chapter 10 – Are We Ready for These Trends? ................................................................................. 61

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 61
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 61
We Need Less Talk and More Action ................................................................................................. 64
There’s an Organizational Breakdown ................................................................................................ 64
Employees Are More Confident in Themselves Than in Those Around Them ..................................... 64
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 66
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 67

Chapter 11 – Challenges ..................................................................................................................... 69

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 69
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 69
Futurize ............................................................................................................................................. 71
Short-Term to Long-Term Thinking ................................................................................................ 71
Past versus Future......................................................................................................................... 71
Keeping up and Adapting to Technology ........................................................................................ 72
Humanize .......................................................................................................................................... 73
Leading Diverse Teams ................................................................................................................. 73
Attracting and Retaining Top Talent ............................................................................................... 74
Reskilling and Upskilling Employees .............................................................................................. 74
Doing Good ................................................................................................................................... 75
Making the Organization Human .................................................................................................... 76
We Aren’t Ready for These Challenges.............................................................................................. 76
Enter the Notable Nine....................................................................................................................... 78
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 79
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 80

Chapter 12 – The Explorer................................................................................................................... 83

Learning Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 83
Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 83
An Overview of the Explorer............................................................................................................... 84
Curiosity ........................................................................................................................................ 85
Joyous Exploration ........................................................................................................................ 86

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Deprivation Sensitivity.................................................................................................................... 86
Openness to People’s Ideas .......................................................................................................... 86
Stress Tolerance............................................................................................................................ 86
We Need More Curiosity .................................................................................................................... 87
Super Perpetual Learning .................................................................................................................. 89
A Family of Super Perpetual Learners................................................................................................ 92
Growth Mindset ................................................................................................................................. 94
Adaptability and Agility ....................................................................................................................... 94
How Leaders Can Develop the Mindset of the Explorer ...................................................................... 95
Review Questions .............................................................................................................................. 98
Review Answers ................................................................................................................................ 99

Chapter 13 – The Chef ....................................................................................................................... 101

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 101
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 101
We Need More HumanIT ................................................................................................................. 101
Embracing Technology .................................................................................................................... 103
Purpose-Driven and Caring .............................................................................................................. 105
How Leaders Can Develop the Mindset of the Chef ......................................................................... 106
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 109
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 110

Chapter 14 – The Servant .................................................................................................................. 111

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 111
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 111
Service to Your Leaders................................................................................................................... 111
Service to Your Team ...................................................................................................................... 112
Service to Your Customers .............................................................................................................. 114
Realize the Power of the Customer Experience Mindset............................................................... 114
Build a Customer-Centric Culture ................................................................................................. 114
Develop Customer-Focused Leadership ...................................................................................... 114
Design the Zero-Friction Customer Experience ............................................................................ 115
Create Customer Experience-Focused Marketing ........................................................................ 115
Leverage Customer Experience Technology to Make Customers’ and Employees’ Lives
Easier and Better .................................................................................................................... 115
Undergo a Digital Transformation................................................................................................. 115
Focus on Personalization for the Customer Experience of the Future ........................................... 115
Embrace Customer Experience Analytics..................................................................................... 115
Define Your Code of Ethics and Data Privacy in Customer Experience ........................................ 115
Service to Yourself ........................................................................................................................... 115
Humility and Vulnerability ................................................................................................................. 117
How Leaders Can Develop the Mindset of the Servant ..................................................................... 118
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 120
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 121

Chapter 15 – The Global Citizen ....................................................................................................... 123

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 123
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 123
The Benefits of a Global Citizen Mindset .......................................................................................... 123
How Leaders Can Develop the Mindset of the Global Citizen ........................................................... 125
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 127
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 128

Chapter 16 – How Well Are We Practicing These Mindsets Today? ............................................... 129
Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 129
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 129
Mind the Gaps ................................................................................................................................. 131
The Seniority Curse ......................................................................................................................... 131

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Around the World ............................................................................................................................. 132

Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 136
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 137

Chapter 17 – The Futurist.................................................................................................................. 141

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 141
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 141
How a Futurist Thinks ...................................................................................................................... 143
How Leaders Can Develop the Skill of the Futurist ........................................................................... 144
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 145
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 146

Chapter 18 – Yoda ............................................................................................................................. 147

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 147
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 147
Emotional Intelligence (Empathy and Self-Awareness) ..................................................................... 147
Empathy ...................................................................................................................................... 147
Self-Awareness ........................................................................................................................... 148
Other Components of Emotional Intelligence.................................................................................... 150
How Leaders Can Develop The Skill of Yoda ................................................................................... 151
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 153
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 154

Chapter 19 – The Translator.............................................................................................................. 155

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 155
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 155
Listening .......................................................................................................................................... 156
Communication................................................................................................................................ 157
How Leaders Can Develop the Skill of the Translator ....................................................................... 158
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 161
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 162

Chapter 20 – The Coach .................................................................................................................... 163

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 163
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 163
Motivating, Inspiring, and Engaging People ...................................................................................... 164
Motivating .................................................................................................................................... 165
Inspiring....................................................................................................................................... 165
Engaging ..................................................................................................................................... 166
Creating Future Leaders .................................................................................................................. 167
Working Across Generations and Cultures ....................................................................................... 169
Creating Effective Teams ................................................................................................................. 170
How Leaders Can Develop the Skill of the Coach............................................................................. 171
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 173
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 174

Chapter 21 – The Technology Teenager ........................................................................................... 175

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 175
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 175
Understand How Technology Impacts Your Business....................................................................... 175
How Leaders Can Develop the Skill of the Technology Teenager ..................................................... 176
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 177
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 178

Chapter 22 – How Well Are We Practicing These Skills Today? ..................................................... 179
Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 179
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 179
Mind the Gaps – Again!.................................................................................................................... 181

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Around the World ............................................................................................................................. 181

Are We Future Leader Ready?......................................................................................................... 181
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 184
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 185

Chapter 23 – Knowing vs. Doing ...................................................................................................... 189

Learning Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 189
Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 189
Define “Leader” and “Leadership” .................................................................................................... 190
The Golden Triangle of Leadership .............................................................................................. 191
Look at Your Present State .............................................................................................................. 192
Practice the Skills and Mindsets ....................................................................................................... 192
Build Your Tribe ............................................................................................................................... 192
Avoid a Typical Day ......................................................................................................................... 193
Guide Others ................................................................................................................................... 193
Review Questions ............................................................................................................................ 195
Review Answers .............................................................................................................................. 196

References ......................................................................................................................................... 197

Glossary ............................................................................................................................................. 205

Index .................................................................................................................................................. 207