The relevance of being a digital leader in today's world

This article was written by expert industry mentor in Digital Leadership - Arpan Roy

In the current market, digital skills are being increasingly recognised as business skills. And for good reason. Over the past 5 years, digital transformation has been at the top of many organisations' priorities. This has been triggered by the need to stay competitive, deliver a seamless customer experience and continuously add customer value. This has been accelerated through the pandemic, as there is now greater emphasis on organisations to increase their digital footprint. 

While organisations prioritise their digital skills and transformation, there is a focus on enabling leaders who are able to lead those initiatives and ensure that their organisation remains competitive. And it's not just about delivering customer value. It's also about taking people along and ensuring that there is greater alignment across the board while delivering those initiatives. This is no doubt an exciting time to be a digital leader. Here are some of the key reasons why digital leadership is relevant in today's world: 

1. Digital Transformation

Organisations are continuously undergoing digital transformation, which encompasses the integration of digital technology into all areas of a business. Digital leaders are needed to spearhead these initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions and that the organisation remains competitive. 

2. Changing Consumer Behaviour 

With consumers increasingly interacting with brands and services online, leaders need to understand the digital journey of their customers to offer relevant experiences and solutions. 

3. Remote Work

The rise of remote work, especially post-pandemic, demands digital proficiency. Leaders must understand how to manage, motivate, and lead teams that might be distributed globally. 

4. Innovation and Agility

Digital leaders are often at the forefront of innovation. They understand the need for agility in the digital age, where consumer demands and technological landscapes can change rapidly. 

5. Data-Driven Decisions

Digital tools and platforms generate vast amounts of data. Digital leaders understand the importance of leveraging this data for informed decision-making, predicting market trends, tracking and managing performance, and understanding customer behaviours. 

6. Employee Expectations 

The younger workforce expects a digital-savvy workplace. Leaders must understand digital tools and platforms not just for their customers but also to meet the expectations of their employees. Also, with organisations going through frequent changes, it's important for leaders to ensure that they provide psychological safety for their people. Where they are clear and transparent about the impact of those changes and manage expectations of people to navigate through those changes. 

7. Continuous Learning 

The digital landscape is always evolving. Digital leaders prioritise continuous learning to stay updated with the latest technologies, tools, and best practices.

Interested in developing the right skills to lead high-performing agile teams and develop the capability to drive results in an age of accelerating digital disruption? Check out our Digital leadership short course which is mentored by Arpan.