The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

ADOPTING NEW LEADERSHIP PATTERNS / 165

Branding yourself

So how exactly do you develop yourself

as a leader for the 21st century? One way

of answering this question is to think of

what you can deliver to your customers

as a brand. Your brand signals your

professional, technical, and functional

knowledge and skills, and also your

position in the market. Aim to develop

yourself much as you would steer a

brand. Shape your product (what you

offer) to anticipate customer demand,

and develop your identity to make the

best fit with desirable clients. For

example, should your next client be a

small enterprise where you can work

closely on your entrepreneurial acumen,

or should it be a large corporation where

you can refresh process management

knowledge? Carefully consider your next

steps; how will they shape your brand?

How to develop

continuously

Assess your

competencies

and match with

customer needs

Recognize your

potential for

development

Listen to customers;

engage with others;

join networks;

initiate alliances

Take an

assignment

to stretch you

Learn from

best practice

Leaders with the ability

to be agile, to build

virtual networks and

alliances quickly, will be

the long-term winners

US_164-165_Adopting_new_leadership_patterns.indd 165 30/05/16 3:02 pm