21st Century Leadership: Key Competencies and Contrasts with Traditional Capabilities

Running Head: LEADERSHIP 0
Leadership

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Contents
Introduction to the report...........................................................................................................2
Introduction to the topic.............................................................................................................2
Literature review........................................................................................................................2
Key competencies for 21st century leaders.................................................................................4
Contrast of 21st century leadership capabilities from traditional capabilities............................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
References..................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction to the report
The report shows the analysis and critical view on 21st century leadership in which various
definitions or viewpoints of different authors is discussed. The brief overview and
characteristics of leadership in the age of uncertainty has been discussed under the
introduction section of the topic. This will help in knowing the leadership concept so that
further sections of the report can be understood. Further, in the report, a critical literature
review is given in which depth analysis on the topic leadership has been described by
different authors. This section deliberates various quotes and definitions of leadership issued
by authors of 21st century. The later part of the report focuses on the 21st century leadership
competencies and a comparison is drawn on the 21st century leadership and traditional
leadership capabilities.
The report concludes by asserting the key approach of the report and the discussion
concerning the definitions as well as recommendations intended for the future.
Introduction to the topic
Leadership is a process through which the person influences others in order to accomplish an
objective. Leaders in the organization influence group of persons to accomplish a common
goal. In today’s business environment, leaders influence the group of persons by applying
their skills and knowledge. The leadership in the age of uncertainty puts a pressure on leaders
to develop their skills to handle the situations that can occur anytime Landy and Conte,
(2016). In the 21st century, leaders face a new set of challenges in management. Therefore, to
meet these challenges, the leaders require some specific skills to face all the difficulties in the
organization and build competitive advantage. The working in the industries is changing
rapidly as soon as requirements in the environment changes, so in order to succeed in the
competitive environment the leaders also requires unique capabilities to become capable
(Dess and Picken, 2018). In today era of business environment, leaders should possess a
special set of innovative skills that is different from the traditional capabilities in the leaders.

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Literature review
In today’s era, leadership plays an important role in every phase of human effort. Superiors
can easily influence the individuals in the organization to follow a definite course of action.
However, in some cases employees do not influence as leaders start using their power for
wrong purpose. According to Northouse, (2014) leadership is all about effective use of
strategic power and competencies in order to achieve organizational goals. He suggested that
leadership is the most important and observe phenomenon in the business environment.
As Vitez (2018), states that leadership is a process in which one person influences other
person to work according to his stated guidelines in order to achieve goals. From this
definition, one can understand that it is the process by which individual influences the other.
The outcome of this process results in achievement of goal through the willingness of both
leaders as well as followers. Sometimes, due to unwillingness of followers it can be possible
that desired goals are not achieved. Regarding 21st century leaders, Stevens believes that
today’s business leaders are intuitive, decisive, as well as challenging. According to him,
modern leaders recognises opportunities before the competition, take all the information to
find new possible directions to overcome the competition. However, it is not always possible
for all leaders to identify the opportunities before competition; leaders have to see the issues,
challenges, and opportunities after the situation arises. Before seeing the situation, leaders
can be wrong at some point. The perception of Ken Blanchard regarding the 21st century
leader is very different. He considers that before tackle the challenges in the organization,
leaders should look in the mirror. He believes that the journey of leadership begins with
seeing himself in the mirror first. After this, the leaders are ready to deal with their team
members regarding expectations and goals. This perception is right to apply in 21st century as
persons are judging each other before looking themselves in the mirror. Therefore, to leading
someone, it is necessary for leaders to see themselves first and lead the employees
accordingly.
Roger Gill in his leadership book states the major leadership theories. The great man theory
explains that some leaders are born with some qualities in them (Landis, Hill and Harvey,
2014).The certain qualities are intelligence, confidence, and charisma. However, this quality
cannot be applicable in 21st century because leaders have skills not from their childhood but
they have to build it. On the contrary, trait theory states that the person is not born as a leader.
The traits or characteristics acquired through learning and development over time develops