As times change, good leadership changes with it.  In my mind, it’s all about the ebb and flow of the psychological status of the larger workforce.  It’s ’sense and respond’ with a company’s employees.  If your people are in a state of disconnect from humanism (2000-2007), you become the “touchy-feely” leader.  If your people are uncertain and afraid for their future (2008-2010), you change to the “here’s-what’s-going-on-here’s-what-we’re-doing-here’s-the-bigger-picture-I’ll-keep-you-updated-regularly” leader. 

Just as we look at the overall mood and status of shoppers and then respond accordingly, companies today must look at their employees through the same lens.

Time for purpose-driven leadership
In the 1980s, business leaders were heroes; in the 2000s, they became touchy-feely team-players. Now we need another transition, writes Richard Rawlinson: To lift themselves out of the downturn, companies need visionaries who can delegate day-to-day decision-making and instead focus on articulating their company’s broader drive and mission. Strategy+Business (free registration) (11/16)