Orchestrating Winning Performances 2023: Key Themes for Leadership in an Uncertain Landscape
In July, Vikki Maclean, Partner at Kerridge & Partners, attended IMD’s Orchestrating Winning Performances (OWP) Programme in Lausanne, Switzerland. OWP 2023 tackled a critical issue for leaders today: navigating uncertainty while driving both organisational performance and transformation. Throughout the week-long programme, IMD’s faculty distilled these complex themes into actionable takeaways for leaders to deal with today’s complex economic, social and cultural environment.
The sessions dived into how the challenges posed by the pandemic has changed the current leadership landscape and offered a forward-looking view of the geopolitical, cultural, sustainability, and technological issues that lie ahead for leaders. The following key themes were covered in the programme:
· Leading Strategy in Uncertainty
· Leading Execution in Complexity
· Leading Stakeholders in a Connected World
· Leading People in a Human-Centric Future
· Leading Self – The Foundation for Growth
The Leading Strategy in Uncertainty theme is formulated to equip leaders to not only weather turbulent markets (inflation and recessionary pressures) but thrive in them. Leaders are encouraged to reconsider outdated globalisation models and forge strategic partnerships in a fractured world. Leaders can learn to anticipate disruptions through agile scenario planning and capitalise on new opportunities with a culture of innovation and tech-driven agility, allowing them to navigate uncertainty with vision and confidence.
Leading Execution in Complexity tackles the challenge of turning strategy into tangible results amidst delicate ecosystems. Leaders discover how to harness data analytics for intelligent decision-making, optimise resource allocation, and streamline processes. Building resilient teams becomes paramount, requiring a culture of collaboration, psychological safety, and effective communication across diverse, and potentially remote workforces. Leaders must harness the capabilities of the people and the tools at their disposal to empower the execution of strategy into sustained performance.
In an ever-connected world, the Leading Stakeholders theme equips leaders to navigate a complex web of relationships and responsibilities. It emphasises the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into core business strategies, ensuring not just profitability but long-term sustainability and positive societal impact. Building trust is imperative and transparency through ethical practices strengthens bonds with customers, employees, and investors. Adapting to the evolving regulatory landscape while advocating for sensible policies ensures businesses operate within a supportive framework.
The Leading People in a Human-Centric Future recognises that people are at the core of organisational success in an ever-evolving world. Leaders learn to future-proof their workforce by investing in skills development, nurturing adaptability, and leveraging technology to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. Empowering individuals through leadership fosters ownership and engagement, while prioritising employee well-being creates a productive and thriving workforce.
Leading Self – The Foundation for Growth delves into the crucial aspects of self-awareness and emotional intelligence, urging leaders to understand their strengths and weaknesses, cultivate empathy, and manage emotions effectively. This self-reflection will serve as the foundation for resilience and adaptability, enabling leaders to navigate challenges, embrace change, and maintain a positive outlook. Continuous learning and personal development were emphasised, encouraging leaders to seek feedback from up and down (Board, peers, or direct reports), adapt their leadership styles, and evolve alongside the ever-changing landscape. By prioritising self-growth, leaders cultivate the resilience needed to guide their teams through uncertain times. The most impactful leaders are often those who have embarked on a journey of self-discovery and continue to learn and grow throughout their careers.
The OWP Programme acknowledged the challenging landscape and the complexity leaders operate under, and provided a comprehensive roadmap for effective leadership. While reflecting on the lessons learned from OWP, we can see strong alignment with the findings from our recently-launched Chief Executive Leadership Research project . Included in the report is the Chief Executive development framework designed to empower leaders to grow and lead their organisations with the agility, vision, and people-oriented approach required to navigate complex challenges and drive performance.
Sam Webster, Associate Consultant