5/3/23, 4:16 PM Effective Digital Leadership Is Key To Digital Transformation
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FORBES LEADERSHIP
Effective Digital Leadership
Is Key To Digital
Transformation
Stefan Katanic Former Forbes Councils MemberForbes Agency Council COUNCIL POST | Membership (Fee-Based)
Jul 21, 2021, 07:20am EDT
Founder and CEO of Veza Digital, a white-label marketing
agency. Passionate about growing B2B agency brands.
GETTY
You may assume that in order to become a digital-first leader, you
need to know all the technical nuances of coding or computer
languages. This is untrue! Although it helps if you're versed in some
5/3/23, 4:16 PM Effective Digital Leadership Is Key To Digital Transformation
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technical skills, what's more important than being tech-savvy is
your ability as an entrepreneur. You should be looking at trends
and putting them into action so that they can (hopefully) yield
profitable results — but that's not all.
Digital leadership has never been more important. The rise of the
internet and social media has literally changed everything — from
our relationships to how we run businesses. Organizations need
top-tier talent running their digital operations so they can keep up
with what's happening in this rapidly changing world — or risk
being left behind. Chances are, competitors are already embracing
these new trends that will soon be intertwined in everyone's life.
Leaders need to know themselves in order to be able to lead others.
A leader needs creativity, wit and a vision for the future of the
industry they are working with. They must also have a sense that
change is necessary when it comes down to doing things better —
for example, taking already-established strategies
and implementing new systems, such as people-centric software,
from time to time if needed. Throughout these shifts, leaders
should maintain culture at all times so that changes can take root
properly.
Digital leaders need to find new techniques for leading and
supporting a new mixture of “workers” made up of both humans
and machines. The workforce consists of a mix of human and AI
employees and gig workers working remotely. As the team's leader,
you have to be creative with your leadership style while finding
ways that work best for each individual on the team.
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In teams where people are collaborating remotely from all over the
world, there can often be confusion about how things should be
done or what each person's role is within the projects they're
assigned to. This can lead them back toward traditional modes, like
meetings, which could cause more problems than they solve if not
executed correctly. To support innovation, we need an agile
mindset — taking small steps forward to implement change toward
true transformation.
There's no denying that the digital world is constantly changing.
This can be an advantage because with these changes come
opportunities for businesses to stay ahead of their competitors.
Businesses should adapt quickly to trends in technology as well as
identify potential threats before they become too big of a problem
down the line.
Do you have a hard time understanding how digital is transforming
your business? Are there key elements that are causing revenue
losses for your company but seem to be out of reach or hidden from
view? The secret is in taking the steps necessary to expose and
utilize each opportunity. You're undoubtedly familiar with the term
“digital disruption.” But how do you know if your company is being
disrupted or not? Simply understanding which part of a business
model technology can be used to increase revenue.
If you're a leader looking to execute your strategies, it's important
that you have an understanding of all the tools at your disposal.
Great leaders take the time to get educated on new technology and
understand what they are capable of doing — otherwise, their
strategy may not be successful. It can sometimes feel like high-tech
5/3/23, 4:16 PM Effective Digital Leadership Is Key To Digital Transformation
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projects come with many different technical terms or jargon words
that might make them difficult for people without experience to
dive into. Luckily, there is always room to learn how these things
work.
You can't learn a new way of thinking without dedicating time. I
experienced this firsthand when I attended an immersive workshop
last year. We spent six hours at different stations focused on
brainstorming — for example, visualizing solutions creatively. We
learned all sorts of creative skills that have helped me tremendously
in my career. Dedicate your brainpower toward doing something
you want to do so change can happen. If it's not already clear by
now, experiential learning is critical if you're trying to strengthen
any specific trait like innovation or organizational awareness.
From an opportunity standpoint, you may find that digital
transformation is increasing and there is a heightened need for
individuals who can handle high-pressure situations and lead large
teams, both of which are required for the role of a digital
transformation leader. This may be your cue to capitalize on the
opportunity.
In my experience, seeking new opportunities, saying yes to
challenges and getting outside your comfort zone are all ways to
drive maximum value in business. Combining that with any new
digital programs, projects or initiatives is a great way to become a
leader and get comfortable with the process. A leader is someone
who has the compass for driving results, becoming the fuse of
change, staying ahead of any new developments pertaining to their
company or industry — all while keeping an eye on tomorrow. A
person destined for greatness might find it difficult at first but will
soon see themselves at the top.
5/3/23, 4:16 PM Effective Digital Leadership Is Key To Digital Transformation
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A digital leader is not just one who helps a company find cutting-
edge alternatives to legacy systems. They are also the ones who
approach problems with an open mind and show great curiosity in
their work, which leads them to make all efforts toward
encouraging creativity among teams.
We need to embrace digital leadership, regardless of our roles,
functions, experiences or backgrounds. Having a personal and
business-oriented framework is a great way for all leaders to stay
relevant in the age of disruption. Digital leaders are fearless. They
aren't afraid to question the status quo when they find it wrong —
and always have an answer for a better way forward even if that
means tearing down old systems. Unless these change-makers
embrace digital tools, you’ll never reach transformation goals or
attract top talent in this day and age of rapid technological
progress.
Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for
executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative
and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website.
Stefan Katanic
Founder and CEO of Veza Digital, a white-label marketing agency. Passionate
about growing B2B agency brands.
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