A New Brand of The American Business Icon

“Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein

This quote was one of the most engaging things I shared last week.  So I started thinking…

Leadership is a popular topic these days.  We draw inspiration from all types of leaders.  However, business leaders tend to receive the most attention.  These innovators provide a diverse set of examples.  For some, including myself, they are our business idols.  Lately however, there has been a fundamental shift in the DNA of these individuals. 

Qualities and skills once considered exemplary no longer apply.  Corporate tycoons like Jack Welch and Michael Eisner have given way to such Tech Titans as Jack Dorsey and Sheryl Sandberg.   What makes this new business role model so appealing?  How are they different from their more conservative, blue chip predecessors?  And what exactly caused the shift?

As consumers and markets changed, so did companies.  And while the world became more diverse, more informed, and more connected, companies adapted – at least the smart ones did.  This change required shifts both inside and outside the organization. 

A Dramatic Shift At The Top

A constantly changing business environment forced companies to become agile and adaptable.  This created shorter windows of opportunity sparking the “innovate or die” conundrum.  And amidst the chaos, a new type of leader emerged. 

Customers began demanding how, when, and where they consumed goods and services.  By creating “customer experiences” and not emphasizing “product function and features” some companies began tapping into a whole new world of opportunity. 

Apple is the best example of recognizing this shift in consumer behavior, and created a customer experience for the ages.  As the old saying goes, Microsoft has customers; Apple has rabid and loyal fans.  Under the visionary leadership of Steve Jobs, Apple became the most valued company in the world.  Steve Jobs isn’t a prototype of the new business leader, he IS the modern day American Business Idol.

This new type of leader sees the world differently.  They seek vs. avoid.  They jump in and ask questions later.  They are more likely to be mavericks and mavens.  They are business idols for a new generation.  There are three characteristics that distinguish this new type of leader.

Proactive vs. Reactive 

This new type of leader doesn’t react; they respond.  The new business idol doesn’t actually see challenges and obstacles; they see opportunities.  They look at existing problems and consider new ways to solve them.  Uber is a great example of this.  Love them or hate them, the fact remains that Uber has disrupted the market, and things will never be the same.

Travis Kalanick, founder and CEO of Uber, saw an underrepresented need and filled it.  He didn’t wait for traditional transportation to solve this problem. While we can all agree Uber has a long road ahead, you’ll never consider urban transportation the same way again.

Mess Up & Fess Up 

The new business idol is all about taking risks.  However, success is also a culmination of repeatedly failing.  Netflix’s Qwikster debacle exemplifies when good intentions go awry.  While the split made sense internally, it made absolutely no sense to the people who mattered most: their customers. 

The older generation of business idols would have attempted to justify the mistake by lumping it into a larger context and burying it the financials.  Today’s new business idol, however, is all about owning up to mistakes.  Netflix’s CEO, Reed Hastings, didn’t hide behind a VP or PR firm.  He publicly acknowledged his mistake and assumed full responsibility.  This speaks to the authenticity and self-awareness that exists among today’s business idols.  Authenticity and mindfulness are no longer exceptions to the rule: they ARE the rule. 

While this mistake caused a short-term loss, the risky vision paid off in the end.  Netflix is redefining the rules and disrupting the status quo.

Seek Perspectives vs. Answers 

In times of crisis and constant change, answers are neither recognizable nor available.  The new business idol understands perspective precedes answers. 

Many people solve the first half of the equation, identifying a problem exits.  However, they struggle to solve the second half; actually solving the problem.   The new business idol seeks perspective first and answers second.  He or she seek perspective from mentors, customers, employees, stakeholders, influencers, etc.  Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, is a business idol who consistently seeks perspective. 

Hsieh started “The Downtown Project,” and transitioned Zappos into a new management system in which traditional job titles and management roles no longer exist.  Both have been met with more criticism than optimism.  However, the new business idol understands the value of collaboration and teamwork.  Tony is banking on the power of collaboration and teamwork to transform his company and the community he serves.  I, for one, wish him luck.

The new American Business Idol is daring, bold, innovative, authentic, and generous.  These individuals are also humble, mindful, and inclusive.  They focus on developing a fun and engaging work environments.  They emphasize teamwork and collaboration.   These are leaders whose legacies will endure.

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Robin A. Henderson is the founder of Optimal Living, a lifestyle company helping people chart a unique path to a happy healthy optimal life. You can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Photo credit:  http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/idolchatter/files/2015/05/American-Idol.jpg