Today’s commercial environment is dominated by technology. The ‘big picture’ priority  is out and the detail is in.

Marketing has changed its focus from people centric one-to-one interaction to concentrating on analysis as the dominant underwriter for business planning. SEO is now central and foundational to developing future strategy. Leaders must get very involved and interrogate the data. Hands-off is now hands-on. Leading from the front is now leading from the middle, a key factor endorsed by the recent tsunami of scandals where the Boards were claiming ignorance of the detail. Not good enough –leaders sitting in ivory towers and adopting a dictating persona has no place in today’s fast forward, ever changing, dynamic workplace.

The successful leader will adopt the ‘playing captain’ stance and gain the positive support of their team. There will be no shocks as they are ‘in the mix’ and understand the technology, the operatives and the outcomes in terms of integrity and context.

My title “Leaders must know the small picture” emphasises that the ‘I am the boss’ mentality is about to be replaced with a collaborate modus operandi and for boss substitute facilitator.