Leaders for the new world of work

Abstract

This chapter is about the type of leadership that organizations need to thrive in the new world of work, illustrated by the stories of women and men we have encountered who practice such leadership in their daily lives.

At his home in California’s Santa Cruz mountains, nearly two hours’ drive up winding roads from San Francisco, Slade Fester is living proof that people can hold down a senior job regardless of where, when and how they do their work.

Thanks to technology, an enlightened employer and an adaptable personal style, Slade, a partner with an international accountancy network, is able to satisfy the competing demands of his clients, his team of 20 auditors and managers and his young family. He even finds time to pursue his passion of ocean surfing when the swell hits the Pacific coast.

‘In some respects, I’m working round-the-clock because a lot of my clients are international companies — I do a lot of calls and emails in the evening, which is beneficial because I’ll get an answer from someone in Europe or China while I’m sleeping,’ he says. ‘Within that 24-hour day, however, I’m also getting really valuable quality time with my family and surfing. Sometimes I’m out on the ocean four to five times a week.’¹

No two days are the same for the 51-year-old. He works a day or two from home each week. On the other days, he drives to visit clients or to see colleagues at the San Francisco and San Jose offices of his firm, BDO USA.

Living and working so remotely (even the nearest store is 20 minutes’ drive from the house), he makes it a priority to strengthen relationships with people during his city visits. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to show up face-to-face for the key meetings,’ he says. ‘In the office, I roam the floor and drop in to see people in their cubes.’ Unlike more traditional officebased colleagues who spend most of their time at their computers, he does his concentrated work at home, often after his children have gone to bed.