Navigating the Future of Leadership

We recently invited senior HR, Talent and Business Transformation leaders to JLL’s London offices to discuss the world of leadership in today’s ever-changing business environment. JLL, a global real estate services firm operating in over 80 countries with a strong commitment to sustainability, is leading the charge in redefining leadership to address the challenges posed by a rapidly changing world.

The Current Business Landscape

JLL’s expansive reach, spanning 328 offices across 80 countries, highlights the complexity of today’s business environment. The company operates in a geographically diverse manner, reflecting the global nature of business today. With a clear purpose – “We share the future of Real Estate for a better world” – JLL aligns its strategy with sustainability and inclusiveness, emphasising that they are, at their core, a people business.

Following a global pandemic, technological advancements including AI, and an unpredictable economic climate characterised by high interest rates and inflation, a key question arises: is our approach to leadership development fit for purpose in this changing landscape?

Leadership Values and Strategies

JLL’s previous leadership capabilities outlined a roadmap for leadership excellence. These included such behaviours as thinking big and driving change. However, the forum also brought to light opportunities to do more, particularly in addressing performance concerns and fostering cross-business collaboration. Kweku Yankson, Head of HR EMEA at JLL, posed critical questions about the adaptability of traditional leadership assessment tools and the role of introverted leadership styles in sales organisations.

Key Takeaways

The breakout discussions provided inspiring insights from diverse industries:

1. Egalitarian Leadership: There is a shift towards more egalitarian or democratic leadership, where everyone is now viewed as a leader in their own right. Courageous advocacy of leadership was underscored as essential for organisational change.
2. Flexibility in Leadership: Flexibility emerged as a crucial skill set due to the rapid changes in a business environment. There is a need to balance innovation with perfecting the basics.
3. Leadership during Transformation: Humility in leadership and bringing employees along on the transformation journey is critical. People metrics like attrition can be used as key indicators.
4. Authenticity in Leadership: In today’s digital age, where everyone is more visible, the key to inspiring people is by leading with authenticity and linking it with humility.
5. Values-Based Leadership: Introducing values-based interviews, focusing on hiring, developing, and retaining employees with the right values and behaviours.
6. Inclusive Culture: The importance of inclusive culture is not solely a leadership responsibility but a collective effort across all levels of the organisation.

Adapting to the Future

Stephanie Hyde, JLL CEO UK and CEO EMEA, talked of how leaders today must possess global acumen and be prepared to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world. 

Leading is about creating followership and collaboration, moving forward at pace but bringing the organisation with you.

Stephanie Hyde, CEO UK and CEO EMEA at JLL

JLL’s vision for the future involves rethinking leadership expectations to align with the evolving landscape. The future demands leaders who are agile, digitally curious, and commercially astute. Leaders who prioritise well-being and growth and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Incorporating skills and behaviours into the leaders of tomorrow is also ensuring that the organisation is future-ready. Rachel Laws, Global Head of Talent at JLL, shared the leadership behaviours launched in November 2023, which include winning together and being future ready.

As an organisation, we have made a conscious decision to shift from capability to behaviours because it is non-negotiable. We want our leaders to assess themselves against these criteria, and by formally embedding it into the ethos of all leaders, we can create continuity around the world. 

Rachel Laws, Global Head of Talent at JLL

Final Thoughts

As senior HR leaders continue to navigate the complexities of the evolving business landscape, the insights from JLL’s Global Leadership Forum offer a roadmap for redefining leadership. Embracing agility, prioritising global acumen, fostering inclusive cultures, and adapting compensation strategies are key elements in preparing for the future of leadership. The journey towards leadership excellence is an ongoing process, and organisations must remain committed to continuous learning and adaptation to thrive in an ever-changing world.

We are excited to bring our network together again soon for further thought leadership opportunities in London and around the world. Keep an eye out here for details about our upcoming global HR leader gatherings.