Leadership can come in many forms and shapes. Earliest conceptions of leadership go back hundreds, if not thousands of years. Leadership often had a negative aftertaste, such as in Machiavelli’s The Prince. A leader should be feared, rather than loved, especially if both is impossible. For centuries, leadership was about military prowess, domination, and oppression.
Today, leadership is no longer about conquering countries, but about leading businesses and organizations. What makes a good leader therefore changed. A good leader not only inspires others by creating a vision for a common goal, but also knows how to direct the efforts of the team towards a goal.
There are many ways to be a good leader, but some have turned out to be particularly successful.
The concept of the T-shaped manager was first originated by David Guest and its principles have been promoted a lot since then. The central idea of the T-shaped manager is that they combine the benefits of deep (technical) knowledge and problem-solving skills. These skills are used in a particular functional or business area with broad communication skills across different areas, within or across firms.
Another conception of leadership has been originated by Jack Welch, former long-time CEO of General Electric. In this conception there are four vital angles to leadership.
What leadership style works for you and your organization depends on numerous factors. Furthermore, it is dependent on your personality, but some skills are vital for every value chain leader.
Within every company, leaders have several tasks. These are particularly complex within supply chain management, but can be narrowed down to:
Being a Value Chain leader comes with a lot of complexity and responsibility – working across departments, setting targets, and managing stakeholders are only some of the important skills needed when managing the supply chain. Here at Inchainge, we develop Value Chain Leaders: Our simulations do not only focus on teaching technical skills, but also dedicate attention to the intangible side of leadership!
Here at Inchainge, we develop value chain leaders. But what do we mean by that? Our business games do not only provide you with the knowledge and the technical skills of what it means to build a successful value chain.
We also help you build a solid foundation of leadership skills by addressing how to set targets and encourage performance. Furthermore, you will learn how to create an atmosphere of trust, internally and externally. And, how to lead supply chain management across functional departments. Besides, you can learn more about different topics in our articles on the Inchainge website. Have a look to read more about topics such as soft skills or building teams.