On my first day in Davos,
I'm going to begin with a bit of a provocative statement - Which is to say that
in uncertain times,
the most important thing you can do as a leader is to spark the creativity and
imagination of the people around you.
Leadership is about creating a high energy environment,
a crucible where new ideas and opportunities can be born so that we make the world
a better place than we found it. At BCG we call this generative leadership.
During times of uncertainty,
it's too easy to pull up the drawbridge and go into a defensive mode...
and yet we all know that we should look for the opportunities that the crisis
presents to reimagine and reinvent our businesses.
Without creativity and imagination, those opportunities would be missed.
So the question is, therefore:
How can we create this generative high energy environment?
First, for clarity,
it's up to leaders to share an overarching purpose with their teams.
That gives everyone a clear sense of direction,
a moral compass or North Star, if you will.
Second, I'd like to mention safety.
Leaders have to create a safe space where risks can be taken and new
opportunities can be generated. And my third point is vulnerability.
Inspiring leaders do not pretend that they have all the answers.
They are humble and authentic.
So by providing clarity, creating safe spaces and daring to be vulnerable,
leaders generate the trust and imagination in their people,
that's critical to flourish and succeed in uncertain times.