Today’s dynamic business environment demands a new leadership approach. In the traditional model, leaders take charge and tell followers what to do, when, and how to do it. Leaders who adopt this top-down approach are often called “command and control” leaders or “ alpha ” personalities. These leaders operate from a fear of failure mindset, so they choose to lead from the front. This old-school style of leadership no longer works in today’s business world.

The digital revolution has shifted power away from organizations and toward individuals. This change has given rise to a new type of leader — one who operates from fear of possibility mindset and adopts an approach we call “ Leading From The Back .” Leading From The Back requires trust, transparency, and collaboration. It’s also more challenging than leading from the front because you have to give up control as a leader and learn new skills as an individual contributor. Luckily, you can master these three ways to Lead From The Back with practice and persistence:

Guide By Example.

Your employees will look to you not just for your words but also for your actions. What are you modeling? How are you showing up each day? What kind of culture do you support? Your employees will follow your lead if you demonstrate the right behaviors and actively work to make your values a reality. If not, they’ll follow the examples of others on the team — so be sure to set a suitable model. When you lead by example, you make it clear that you’re open, honest, and vulnerable — a crucial part of building trust and gaining followers. Let your employees know they’re free to ask questions, voice their concerns and bounce ideas off you. You don’t need to have the answers, but you must demonstrate how you’d find them. Let your employees know that the best ideas come from everyone and that you want to hear theirs. 

Coach And Develop Your Team.

No one is born a leader. We’re all learners; as such, we all need guidance, feedback, and development opportunities. As a leader, you can take an active role in helping your team members develop the skills that will help them become stronger leaders. You can coach your team members to help them improve their communication, solve problems, make decisions and collaborate with others. You can also take the time to understand your employees’ strengths, weaknesses, and goals. This will help you identify development opportunities to help your employees excel in their current roles and prepare them to transition into leadership roles within your organization.

Empower Your Team To Lead.

When you empower your team members to lead, you’re allowing them to try something new and apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities they already have to a unique situation. When you empower your employees to lead, you give them the autonomy, tools, and support they need to solve problems, make decisions and achieve goals. You can empower your team members by giving them the freedom to make decisions without having to go through you first. This might sound scary, but it’s a good thing — especially if you’re consistent and transparent in your decision-making process. Employees who are empowered to lead feel trusted and valued. They’re more motivated and engaged in their work because they think they have a meaningful contribution to the organization. They’re also more likely to remain with your company because they feel like they’re contributing to something greater than themselves.

To lead in today’s business environment, you must adapt how you lead your team. This means taking a backseat in decision-making and letting your team members have the autonomy they need to succeed. This will create a culture of trust and transparency, which are crucial in the modern business world. If you want to lead from the back, you first need to earn the trust of your employees. Once you’ve done that, you can start empowering them to lead — and you’ll discover a new kind of leadership that brings out the best in everyone on the team.