Why Leadership Matters for the Best Jobs of the 21st Century

Leadership is hard to define.  It is a concept, much like acceleration, which is only theoretical until it is applied to an actual set of tangible circumstances.  While leadership a hot topic these days, with books on the subject selling briskly and degree programs opening up worldwide to address the interest, many people feel that it is important without really being able to explain why.

As a concept, leadership can be thought of as an accelerant, something that increases the velocity of that upon which it acts.  Is your career stagnating?  Learning what it is to be a leader, and the nuts and bolts of how effective leaders work through traits, behaviors, and relationships, will help boost you from where you are to where you want to be.  Are you an entrepreneur?  Leadership studies will help you learn how to attract and gain the loyalty of followers, who will in turn elevate you and your ideas.  You will learn how groups select a leader from amongst peers, and learn how to maximize the chances that you will be that leader chosen.  If you already lead others, you can learn about how a leader creates meaning for others and shapes the reality they see, so that others decide on a course of action that the leader desires.  You can study how leaders align the efforts of others towards a common goal by shaping and perfecting that goal (through storytelling, charisma, and emotional intelligence) and motivating followers to come along.

Leadership as a topic is not one to be kept in books.  It provides value by being taken out, tested, and wrestled with every day.

Recently a book was published which highlighted the best jobs for the 21st century.  In the midst of financial crises, increasing unemployment, and globalization, many of us are happy to just have a job, and are not worrying about if ours is the best.  But these negative factors define the reality in which we operate, and the best jobs are a reflection of these conditions.

In short, the best jobs are those which cannot be outsourced: high-touch, on-site jobs.  But these are not the only factors.  After all, you can't get your car repaired overseas that easily, so it would seem that being a car mechanic would be a safe job.  But it isn't, because you are highly replaceable, and when this is the case, wages are driven down and you don't make that much (because everyone competes on price).

The key is to not be a commodity.  Be unique.  Be hard to replace.  Here I'll quote directly from an article that discusses the book:

Therefore, the best jobs for the 21st century--the high-growth, high-paying, job-creating occupations--will be in services that require some combination of creativity, sophisticated decision making, interpersonal sensitivity, and adaptability to a changing environment. This last factor, adaptability, means the ability to learn new skills and the flexibility to change work roles and possibly employers as opportunities emerge. It also means that a college degree, while serving as the entry ticket to one of these highly rewarding jobs, does not free the worker from the need for additional education or training. Continuing education is a legal requirement for many of these jobs and a practical necessity for the others.

Two points above are critical.  First, the highlighted skills- those which make you unique and valuable- are all direct aspects of leadership development.  They ARE leadership.  Second, it isn't ever too late to go back to school and further develop your skill set.  This is the beauty of a leadership graduate program: it is applicable to everyone.  


Every year we watch students advance their skill sets and become more valuable in the workplace with our Masters in Leadership degree.  Where they take those skills, how they apply them, and how far they go is up to them.  What's certain is that as we head further into the 21st century, more and more indicators are showing that becoming a better leader in your field is the path to more stability, satisfaction, and apparently a shot at the "best jobs" the century has to offer.

Differentiate yourself.  Consider BU Brussels.

The BUB Newsletter - Dec / Jan

For the holidays, we are combining two months' of newsletter into one.  Click on the image below for the full pdf version of the December / January newsletter for Boston University - Brussels:

If link from image does not work, click here.

Communicating as a Leader with today's Electronic Media

As a leader, you have many options for communication at your disposal.  Traditional (now called "rich forms") of communication remain the best option for sensitive or confidential matters, or arenas where the style of delivery (such as tone of voice) are important.  Rule of thumb: no sarcasm in email!  It doesn't translate.  In addition to the context of the message, it's important not to over-rely on electronic communications in general.  Psychologists have noted that there are several hidden problems that result- people need human interaction to remain connected, motivated, and stimulated.  Simply turning to the computer or smart phone for every message won't do. 

So tip #1 is: Combine new methods of communication with old "human interaction."  Take a walk around your office to chat with people.  See what comes up.  Often when this unstructured space for communication is available, simmering issues can come up and be addressed before turning into big problems.  If you have virtual workers, try to organize periodic events where you can all meet in person.

Next, consider the existing level of relationship in your communications.  Do you all know each other well in person?  Have you been working together for some time and "gelled" as a group?  If so, you probably have existing communication patterns, which can then be supplemented with electronic communications.  In other words, if you've known each other for a while, you can read "between the lines" of emails and text to understand what is meant over and above what is simply said.  If you are new to working together, try not to rely too much on emails or texts at first.  You may not know the other well enough to know what they truly mean in these short communications.

It's also important to READ AND RE-READ your messages before yous send them off!  This applies both to emails and to texts.  Simple errors in emails can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings.  These days the autocorrect feature on your smartphone can turn a regular text into an embarrassing missive.  Typing "ok Bob I will call client now" quickly while driving (which you shouldn't be doing anyhow) can turn into a whole different message if call is autocorrected to kill.  It's happened!  A quick Google search shows innumerable examples.  Also be sure to check who you are replying to.  Many a career has been ended over hitting "Reply to All" instead of "Reply." 

Finally, know when it's in poor taste or tacky to use email or texts.  Some interactions just need to happen in person.  Important issues, the loss of a loved one (even a pet!), and other sensitive topics should be addressed in person, or if that is not possible due to distance, at least over the phone.  If you're not sure- ask!