Drucker Forum Program Outline
and Key Questions
–
What Do We Mean by Next-Era Leadership?
What does it mean to lead? Defining terms. Identifying the “first principles” that will always hold true (what doesn’t change), and suggesting how “next era” leadership might depart from old models (e.g., thinking of leadership less as a role and more as a process or outcome). And speaking of outcomes: what did Peter Drucker believe about leadership?
What’s Really New about Leadership and the Challenges Facing Leaders? Why do we need a “next” leadership? (Some reasons: heightened innovation imperative, AI, uncertainty / volatility, unfolding “future of work,” demographic trends, unprecedented transparency, calls for “purpose” at work, pressure to take political stances).
What Today’s Leaders Are Up Against
Deep Dives: concurrent sessions exploring several of the new and pressing challenges listed just above, with emphasis on new research shedding light on them and what they demand of “Next Era Leadership.”
Sources of Inspiration: Places Where “Next” is Now
Practical Learnings from Current Cases: Models and Lessons in Next-Era Leadership: Examples of successful deviations from traditional approaches, perspectives on what makes migrating to new models so hard and how to make better progress.
The “Next You” as a Leader
Managing Yourself as a Leader. Concurrent sessions on personal success strategies such as: Using AI tools, working effectively with a coach, using social media, choosing your spots to take political stances, honing your wisdom, building productive leadership habits, Achieving outcomes/results.
How Leadership Development Must Change
The big shift required in leadership development (in mindset/assumptions, “high potential” delivery mechanisms, outcome measurement, and more)
Deep Dives: New Insights from various disciplines that should inform leadership development (whether in corporate programs, coaching relationships, AI offerings, or whatever form). Research-based insights drawing on neuroscience, social psychology, other disciplines. How to cultivate wisdom, judgment, virtue, authenticity, other strengths required for “next era leadership.”
Next-Level Leadership
Here we consider leadership beyond the walls of the company. Not at the team or firm level but at the sector and ecosystem level, and in political, religious, philanthropic, military realms. Also: is the leadership talent being developed in commercial enterprises equal to the challenges of leading in these other realms?
Essentials for Next-Era Leadership
After a day and a half of immersion into next-era leadership, what do we know about meeting the challenges of the evolving commercial environment? Concurrent deep dives will look at the essentials for: Leading for Innovation, Leading with Purpose, Transformational Leadership, and Leading from the Middle (the leadership exercised by middle managers and team leaders).