Analysis: Scottish prime minister Nicola Sturgeon's decision to resign is a further sign of critical issues with leadership and expectations
It is important for society to be critical of its leaders. They have power, influence and often significant resources at their disposal. The decisions they make shape our lives. From those at the head of nations, public institutions, global corporations and social movements, right through to our local sports coaches, community activists, teachers and the boss we report to daily: we experience leadership 'moments' which can make or break us. So we do, and should, watch their every move, analyse their actions, seek to influence their views and call them out when necessary.
The decision by Scottish prime minister Nicola Sturgeon to resign, following on the recent resignation of New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern, highlights a critical issue with leadership internationally and here at home.
A recent report shows that 35% of the senior leaders surveyed across Ireland say they're burnt out. In addition, 33% of the 299 leaders surveyed for the Sustainable Leadership for a Post-Digital Age report believe their future career lies outside of their organisation.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, discussion on Nicola Sturgeon's resignation with Open Democracy's Peter Geoghegan and HuffPost UK's Kevin Schofield
Furthermore, the study found that 77% of leaders in Ireland today believe they take on ‘extra risk’ when they step up to lead with 75% seeing leadership as a ‘personal risk’. The 72 leaders interviewed explain that this risk comes from above in terms of demands from shareholders and below from the demands and needs of their followers.
There is no doubt that long-standing economic, social, environmental, political and technological forces are increasingly inter-linked. However, the need to comply with a plethora of important (and in past decades much neglected) financial, legislative, quality, security, ethical, GDPR, HR, hybrid working etc. accountabilities and regulations bring newer risks to those at the top.
In addition, we also hold leaders responsible for tackling some serious world issues around carbon emissions, social inclusion and workplace diversity for example. This is an appropriate expectation, not just for those in politics but anyone in a position of power and authority. Whether it's a multi-national corporation moving away from single-use plastic packaging, a CEO pushing through gender balance at the top table or a local business effort to hire and serve individuals without bias, it’s the sum of all the small leader actions and behaviours which re-shape our world when combined.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Reignite, a deep dive into burnout in the workplace
But it's not the risk alone that leaders confront. Leaders in this study highlight the negative personal impact of today’s intense scrutiny of their performance, especially via social media, on their professional and often personal lives. Society is increasingly demanding, impatient and hypercritical. There is a point where appropriate leader accountability tips into online abuse and knee-jerk, sometimes grossly misappropriated cancel culture. While this is almost weekly in public forums, this abuse can be daily in local WhatsApp groups or online business platforms. And it's not just politicians on the receiving end.
It's really no surprise then that leadership is hard work. The majority of leaders in this study work a 50 to 60 hour week. Yet, most leadership roles attract good salaries and other privileges so one might be justified in saying such pressure simply comes with the job. When, though, is this pace of work, risk and scrutiny counterproductive?
Despite Sturgeon and Ardern's powerful positions, they have been unable to achieve a life-work balance. We need to reflect on this and ask why they felt the need to pre-empt media and public scrutiny by stating it was not their inability to do the job, cope with the pace of work or deliver on agendas.
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From RTÉ Brainstorm, why are so many people leaving their jobs?
Here in Ireland, the new study found that our current generation of leaders are highlighting a serious lack of willingness in future generations to ‘step up’ to lead. While we can dismiss this lack of interest in the hard work of leadership as snowflake-syndrome, the leaders interviewed here don’t do that. Instead, they call for a change in how we lead. They feel Gen Zs are looking at baby-boomers, Gen X and even some Millennials and calling us all out for a leadership style that is no longer fit for purpose.
Progressive leaders today want a more sustainable approach to leadership, one that is more holistic, human-centred and humble; one that is focused more on followers and sharing leadership broadly. This is closely linked to a sustainable business approach that is focussed on doing the right thing in the long term, not just the fastest thing in the short term. This is for the benefit of all: business shareholders, employees, customer's communities and the environment.
It seems quite clear that recent times and events have caused us all to reflect and rethink how we want to shape the future. The leaders in Ireland today, those who have made it to the top and took the time to reflect through this study, have a clear message: something has to give. We need to break something. Sustainable leadership has to be the way forward. As one participant put it, "it's time to stand up or stand aside".
The Sustainable Leadership for a Post-Digital Age report was produced with research undertaken by the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick's WorkFutures Lab and commissioned by ICBE Business Excellence Skillnet
The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
