Dear Future Leaders,

Dear Future Leaders,

It is time for leadership to change drastically, and it is on the next generation of leaders to make the change. People are leaving their jobs in unprecedented numbers. The craziest part is that they are doing it voluntarily. Why? The obvious answer is that they are unhappy with their careers. But how could literally millions of people be so unhappy with their jobs that they would take the terrifying leap into a new career, or even into voluntary unemployment?

The answer is simple: Leaders are failing them. I am one of those workers actively searching for a new career. I am doing this because I feel like a cog in a machine. A raft in turbulent water without a paddle. Falling from a plane without a parachute. I feel this way because although I have superiors with the titles of “manager” and “Vice President,” I am not being led. So let’s explore what exactly is happening, and what you need to do about it.

All too often the infamous “higher-ups” will create programs and directives for the employees to follow. They look at the numbers, customer feedback and dreaded “key performance indicators” to create a solution for whatever problems they are facing. They will package these solutions into easily understood directives and they will hand the plan down the corporate ladder until it hits the boots on the ground. So what is the problem with this? The problem is that it doesn’t work.

Have you ever heard of the leadership principle called “leading up?” It’s very simple; a leader should react to their employees, not the other way around. If it is clear there is a problem within the company, leaders should go to the employees at the lower rungs of the leadership hierarchy and listen to what they have to say. Once all the concerns have been genuinely considered, it is time for leaders to develop a plan and deliver it directly to those who have to implement it. If you expect to be a leader, you must listen to those you lead. You do not know better than them, and your employees know it.

When leaders listen to their employees, and then their employees see change directly addressing their concerns, benefits follow. It is no secret that happy employees work better than disgruntled employees. Employees that provide a higher quality of work will benefit the business through higher sales, better customer experiences and a better product. Therefore, Listening to your employees leads to more revenue. Seems like a no brainer to me.

What about in times of crisis? Well, look at today. Employees are leaving companies in droves. Companies cannot meet the needs of their customers and are hurting because of it. If a company's truck driving force is down 75%, and the remaining drivers are overworked and underpaid, what is a leader to do to prevent losing more drivers? The leader must take responsibility for what led them here. The leader must take responsibility for what they should have done, not blame what happened to them. Many leaders will see this action as a demonstration of weakness, but it is quite the opposite. Employees will respect this and know that action is being taken. Employees will follow suit and take responsibility for their own shortcomings. Sometimes (pretty much always), admitting one is at fault is the best thing to do.

So what exactly am I asking leaders to do? Basically, just do the next right thing. Leaders of the past and especially of today lost sight of just how massive an undertaking it is to lead a team. So if you are planning to work beyond an entry level position, odds are you will have to become a leader in some capacity. If that is the case, please do not take notes off of the state of leadership today. Pave your own path. Study how companies with great employee reviews lead. Read books written by outstanding leaders. Learn from your own experience. Take into consideration that when you were an entry level employee you relied on the leadership of your superiors.

What happened when you couldn’t get a hold of your manager who was always missing? Did you do a better job? Conversely, what happened when your boss took you aside and told you honestly and in a caring tone that you could do better? Which one of those leaders would you like to be?

The employees of our nation's workforce are facing a leadership crisis. Don’t wait for someone else to clean up this mess. Take ownership, and lead the way towards change.

Sincerely,

An Employee