An article by Johto Advisors - Evolving leadership in engineering firms: where will the next leaders come from?
In this article JOHTO Advisors discuss the question of where the next generation of leaders will come from as engineering firms evolve.
In the past, leadership roles in engineering firms were typically based on strong technical expertise. This approach provided leaders with credibility both within the organisation and with clients. It also enabled them to make realistic judgements on technical solutions and project feasibility.
However, a changing environment is creating new demands on this leadership. The context is evolving. Engineering firms have grown significantly, and their organisational structures and traditional leadership pathways need to be rethought. The number of new leaders is limited.
The key issue is determining the extent to which in-depth technical expertise is a prerequisite for leadership. In what ways can the ability to lead people, build coherent structures and steer an organisation through continuous change be measured?
The recent discussion about balancing technical expertise and leadership capability has opened up new career paths and created room for new backgrounds and profiles. When leadership capability is accorded equivalent importance to technical expertise, engineering firms can develop leadership pipelines that more effectively support growth, renewal and the increasingly complex demands of their clients.
Read the full article by Jaana Pollari - Managing Partner at JOHTO Advisors, Finland:
