CBS Leadership Think Tank: Leadership for the Future

What does leadership look like in a world of constant change?

On a backlog of the climate crisis, geopolitical changes, inequality discussions, and other impactful megatrends, the world is facing a shift in paradigms. Big forces are at play and strong, responsible leadership is needed to find new answers to increasingly complex challenges.

But what does the future of leadership look like, and what are the critical leadership capabilities in a world of constant change?

In the Leadership Think Tank, we combine the newest research with the experiences of leadership practitioners, to create a visionary, robust, and nuanced picture of the future of leadership.

MEMBERS

With over 50 members, the Think Tank brings together a diverse group of accomplished leadership practitioners and distinguished researchers from CBS. Together, the members represent inspiring leadership experiences and mindsets that will facilitate the quest to develop new thinking about leadership.

Click here to see who is involved.

WORKSHOPS

The Think Tank members will meet four times.

The Think Tank will start with an open, explorative approach, and conclude with tangible takeaways, that can inspire and engage a larger audience outside the Think Tank.

The final gathering will be an event to share discoveries and join discussions about the future of leadership. 

WORKSHOP #1

The theme of our first workshop in August 2023 was Uncover – uncovering the elements of transformation.

Here, we explored the concept of transformation and discussed the underlying characteristics that drive the change that are experienced in leadership roles.

WORKSHOP #2

The theme of our second workshop in November 2023 was Explore – exploring key drivers in leadership.

Here, we explored the key drivers needed at the organizational and personal level to build successful leadership capabilities for the future.

WORKSHOP #3

The theme of our third workshop in March 2024 is Envision – envisioning the future of leadership.

WORKSHOP #4: Launch of the Think Tank Report!

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!

 

The page was last edited by: CBS Leadership Centre // 10/18/2024