Part 01: Introduction

Leadership styles have changed over time, adapting to existing frameworks such as corporate development and market trends. An appropriate communication and leadership style is an important tool for managers to successfully fulfil their tasks.

Given the rapid development of the internet, which increasingly shapes communication, there are some new topics that executives should address.

Part 02: Leadership for Leaders

The term "leadership" was coined by the American Harvard professor John P. Kotter.

He distinguished between managers, whom he described as administrators, and leaders, who he felt led companies and employees with vision rather than strict workflows. In companies and markets that are becoming increasingly complex and international, it can be advantageous for leaders to break away from familiar patterns and be more flexible in responding to changes through leadership.

The hard facts of a company should not be forgotten over visions; a certain degree of „manager“ should always be maintained. Communication and one's own communication style greatly influence whether one is perceived and accepted more as a manager or a leader.

Part 03: Leadership 2.0

Was bedeutet Leadership 2.0?

Derived from the term Web 2.0, this leadership style promotes the active involvement of employees in decision-making by managers. Employees are meant to participate intensively in company affairs and learn which decisions lead to which results, as well as what leadership means for managers. Leadership 2.0 also means promoting communication, not just top-down and bottom-up, but also within the workforce.

Knowledge should be shared; ideas and innovations should arise from creative collaboration.

Part 04: Social Media & Leadership

Another important topic is social media, which refers to platforms that enable the online exchange of information or knowledge. In the private sphere, this is familiar from online communities or sharing websites. In the business sphere, this term also includes knowledge bases or instant messaging, for example. These are used in companies to simplify communication between employees and enable knowledge sharing.

Social media already influences executives and leadership; for example, employees can rate companies on employer ranking portals, and the results are visible to everyone. Social media facilitates communication but can spread across the internet due to its public nature, and it is advisable for companies to regularly check which portals they appear in and with what content.

In summary, leadership for managers is strongly influenced and shaped by external changes. Communication, whether in person or in digital form, is and remains an important component of the leadership task. Therefore, it is important for HR professionals and decision-makers to stay on top of topics such as social media, Leadership 2.0, or the increasingly described Generation Y, and to follow developments. Not every trend will catch on, but none can be missed either.

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