Leadership Manifesto for the 21st Century

We are all different, we each have our unique personality and the present time is very different from the time I started exploring the concept of ‘leadership’ many years ago. Organizations are also widely different; they have different goals, are driven by different principles and they are in different situations and phases that are constantly changing.

Therefore, there is also an endless flow of academic theories and practical models which seek to define how one should lead people and organizations through this whirlpool of diversity from new angles. On that account, there are just as many ways to lead as there are stars in the sky, and they all have a degree of truth – but only a degree. Despite all the available management books, you can still not just look up a page in a book and lead people only by what you have read.

Leadership Manifesto for the 21st Century

Dato: Apr 24 2019

Af: Lars Ib

Download The Leadership Manifesto

The older I become, the clearer it is to me that we all have an obligation to make the world a better place. Economy and business must not be separated from people, and, therefore, I wish that future leaders accept the obligation and pleasure to lead from some of the guidelines my manifesto is describing. 21st century leadership must not remain a technical discipline driven by money and power. It must be a developmental philosophy filled with care and human understanding, so leaders who take responsibility for giving direction to others can be proud of their work and feel that they have chosen one of the most meaningful métiers I know.

The developmental philosophy can be simply expressed through the 10 dogmas mentioned below:

Seperate leadership from management
Maintain personal integrity
Develop your craft
Go on adventures and experiment
Set goals and create movement
Be stubborn and hardworking
Results are more important than rules
Create meaning and simplicity
Be humane
Believe in a better world

The dogmas above set the framework for proper leadership behavior in a chaotic and changeable world and they can follow the careers of even the youngest leaders. It is my hope that Danish leaders will ask themselves the question: “Do I follow the 10 rules?”, and for every affirmative answer, the energy and the results will grow.