The stereotype of a great leader has metamorphosised in the new Millennium. Great leaders of the last generation may not even pass muster today. The earlier paradigm of leadership was leaders used to be more of commanders, who demanded respect, obedience and loyalty of their followers more as a due to their rank, experience, and age.  But in a world, which now lives in an oyster, following the connectivity revolution, such a disconnected style no longer suffices.

Age and designation are no longer the two essential factors that make a good leader. Corporates today are growing so rapidly that sky is their limit. It’s the age of start-ups in India. Growing organizations need a living and growing culture for sustainable growth. A good leader is therefore like a landscape architect.  They set-up and nurture a living culture within their organization – a culture which can profitably grow and adapt itself to the changing needs of the organization with time. For the new leader collaboration is the epitome of power and not rank.

Real leaders therefore, are co-creators – they create leaders out of those around them. They inspire and motivate by being facilitators, by being mentors, by being catalysts for growth. Flexibility is the hallmark of this leader, which can refer to information, department or a resource.

The new leaders drive communication and collaboration as their strategic imperative. They don’t order. They listen. This is the best way to identify a leader for the new millennium, they listen more than they speak. They encourage two-way communication.

Leadership's new mantra is Be collaborative, Be creative, Be innovative and Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. So the new age leader now resides and works along with his folks – no ivory tower for him/her!