Think Tank Report - debrief from the launch event

A new vocabulary for leadership!

• Orchestrating Speed and Rhythm
• Sustaining Moral Compass
• Enabling the Organisation
• Bridging Diversities

This is some of the new vocabulary for leadership that has come out of the work in the CBS Leadership Think Tank.

For the past year, we have gathered a unique group of leaders and academics to discuss what leadership looks like in a world of high complexity, uncertainty, accelerating pace and increased expectations for the individual leader to ‘step up’.

Last week, we celebrated the launch of the LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE REPORT which builds on the many reflections and discussions in the Think Tank.

During the day, a total of 6 panels helped us unfold the new leadership context and skill sets. The Think Tank members generously shared their views on leadership with concrete examples from both personal and professional experience. These were some of the key takeaways:

• Leaders must be able and willing to stand by a set of moral values, but how these should be identified is not an easy process and requires involvement of leadership as well as employees and stakeholders. Finding the sweet spot of the moral compass in today’s multi-cultural-value organisations demands sensitivity, listening skills, and clear communication
• Today's leaders have to simultaneously run, move and transform their organisations. This balancing act requires mental resilience, strong communication skills and remaining true to purpose. Long term thinking coupled with a collaborative approach is crucial for the leader to sustain a rhythm of renewal of the company
• It is increasingly legitimate for today’s leaders not to have all the answers - and to admit so
• Leaders are better off telling stories and painting visions rather than dictating directions
• Creating space for reflection is enhanced by being conscious of the hotlines and the not-lines in the organisation
• Well-being is important but ‘doing the work' remains indispensable
• Leading in an ecosystem of organisations challenges leaders to know the ecosystems around their organization and reflect on their own perspective

Incoming 'Leader in Residence' at CBS Leadership Centre, Christian Bason presented one of the research pathways that has come out of the Think Tank: Collaborative Leadership.

The pathway will focus on new leadership approaches to collaborate across ecosystems in new constellations and value-creating partnerships. Because innovation and collaboration no longer happen within businesses alone – it is enabled by new and cross-cutting networks and business models, and we need to know more about the leadership dynamics in this new setting.

Finally, we had the pleasure of welcoming Peter Møllgaard to unfold CBS's commitment to responsible leadership.

THANK YOU to everyone you joined us - on stage, in the Think Tank and in the audience!