Coach for Innovation and Collaboration Methods Andrea Schmitt

The management culture of the last 150 years has become obsolete: hierarchical management, rigid processes and business divisions structured as silos, a non-existent error culture and much more have no longer any room in today’s business community, which is characterized by disruption and an unbelievable urge for change.

But what does modern agile leadership look like? And above all: which specific tools can be used by modern leaders who want to increase the innovative capabilities of their company?

Modern leadership is a topic that was influenced by Daniel H. Pink and Jurgen Appelo, amongst others.

Daniel H. Pink proved that employees perform better when they are empowered using intrinsic motivators such as mastery, autonomy and purpose instead of extrinsic motivators such as financial incentives.

Jurgen Apollo has brought this approach one step further and developed specific leadership tools how to support self-organization and foster intrinsic motivation. An example of such a tool is the Delegation Board which can be employed by manager and team to agree who has decision-making power to which level in which topic.

The so-called Kudo Cards are another tool used to encourage employees to express appreciation to each other. This can have a strongly motivating function. Jurgen Apollo describes these practices in his books “Management 3.0” and “Managing for Happiness”.

The required modern leadership style needs a different corporate culture, including an attitude in which all parties involved – customers, leaders and employees alike – can interact as equals. In doing so, the strengths of all players are released and subsequently an organization’s innovative capabilities and its resilience are increased dramatically.