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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1484213
S p e c i a l F e a t u r e E D U C A T I O N F E A T U R E The Art of New Leadership Leadership is muti-faceted in today's increasingly complex and unpredictable world, and BC's top schools providing education for professionals are noticing W hen command-and-control leadership was the only leadership style people expected, things were simpler. The boss told people where to be and what to do there, and if there were any problems, they all fell back on that one person delivering directives. But with simplicity came exclusion and lost opportunity. Other leadership styles were lost in the foray or overlooked, and leaders burned out at alarming rates. In today's complex world and more connected professional landscape, leaders with a diverse skillset aren't just accepted—they are sought after. The British Columbia Labour Market Outlook 2021-2031 Forecast lists active listening, speaking, critical thinking and reading comprehension as the top skills of the future. Social perceptiveness, monitoring, judgement, and decision making were also deemed important for most future jobs. Some of these skills, like decision making and critical thinking, are not surprising, but others, like social perceptiveness and monitoring, are less common. "How many job advertisements list 'ability to tune into the feelings of others' as requirements?" asks Jo-Anne Clarke, dean of Continuing Studies at University of Victoria. "Not many, but it's a vital leadership skill. There's a well-known saying that 'people don't leave bad jobs; they leave bad bosses.'" LEADERSHIP STYLE "Through self-reflection activities, students can discover their distinctive leadership styles and based on that style, determine how best to interact in team environments as well as recognize the leadership styles of others," says Joy Dalla-Tina, VCC Continuing Studies, Program Coordinator, Business and Mangement. Dr. Maureen Mancuso, vice-president academic at University Canada West agrees, noting that successful leadership is a matter of knowing your audience and matching your techniques to the situation and context. "In that way, it is more of an art than a science, and leadership is changing— social media and unlimited personal communication have fundamentally altered how even small groups behave, and how they respond to proposals and incentives."