Future of Leadership

This chapter discusses how digitization has changed leadership and what it means for leaders. Digitalization has been heralding changes for years, including an increase in remote leadership and the usage of digital communication tools. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are now faced with the challenge of adjusting to these developments and must deal with significant uncertainties: the key trends that leaders in SMEs should consider, the changes that will affect leadership and how they will alter the behaviours that are essential for success. The experts' predictions for trends include adjustments to organizational structures and workplace practices. Organizationally, businesses will become more flexible and diversified with less emphasis on hierarchies, and they will work more closely together. Big data will have a bigger impact on work, and many jobs will be automated or made simpler by technology.