Babble’s CTO, Andy Lindsell, tells us why IT Leaders must prioritise their ethical fitness for success.
The business leadership landscape has undergone a dramatic shift in the past few years. This transformation is driven by several factors: the relentless pace of technological advancement, the ever-changing economic environment and a new workforce demanding a different leadership style.
One of the most striking shifts is the need for leaders, particularly IT leaders, to feel ‘always on’. The era of constantly checking emails at family dinners and fielding work calls on holiday is fading fast. Today’s leaders recognise that ‘rise and grind’ culture doesn’t equal business success, with studies showing the approach can stifle growth. Instead, leaders are focusing on more effective, and therefore successful, ways of working. Leaders who prioritise well-being are demonstrably more effective. They exhibit increased focus, make better decisions, and foster a more engaged and productive team environment. Enter ‘Fit to Lead’, a framework that encourages leaders to work on their physical, mental and ethical fitness in today’s business world. Leaders should also encourage and more importantly facilitate, their employees to do the same.
A new leadership framework
It’s no secret that working on your mental and physical fitness is one of the simplest ways to sharpen your mind, reduce stress, and stimulate creativity and productivity at work. However, the ‘Fit to Lead’ framework goes further than this, presenting a balanced approach to the three pillars of ‘fitness’ for leadership success. The three pillars provide a balanced view of leaders’ ethical fitness alongside their mental and physical fitness.
In a survey by Babble, 80% of the UK’s SME leaders said that dedicating time to each of the three pillars makes them a better leader. And, today’s leaders want to go further, with 76% saying they want to dedicate more time to promoting mental, physical and ethical fitness.
Implementing this framework becomes even more important as technology continues to evolve. The sheer pace and scale of innovation in the technologies that organisations increasingly rely on are creating questions on how British CIOs, CTOs and companies can manage their ethical, physical and mental fitness. In particular, ‘always on’ collaboration and messaging tools that blur the line between work and home. Leaders must remain agile and grapple with forthcoming opportunities and ethical questions that arise from advancements in AI, ranging from biases within AI to the wider conversations around AI stealing jobs.
The Fit to Lead framework can support business leaders in navigating these challenges.
Always-on technology and three-pillar fitness
The relentless march of ‘always-on’ technology, where systems run 24/7, is a double-edged sword.
While it keeps businesses humming, it can foster an ‘always-on’ mentality for leaders too. This pressure intensifies with the rise of remote working practices, further blurring the lines between work and personal life.
Here’s where prioritising physical and mental fitness becomes crucial. As technology constantly beckons, carving out time for exercise and healthy habits promoting mental fitness and wellbeing becomes a vital act of self-care. A leader fuelled by a strong body and mind is better equipped to make sound decisions, manage stress and inspire teams. They will be more resilient against the constant pull of technology and ultimately, more effective in this demanding environment.
Babble’s research paints a mixed picture on how long leaders spend on nurturing their physical, ethical and mental fitness. Tech leaders spend more time than any other C-suite role on the three fitness pillars at an average of 115 minutes per week. Whereas chief executives spend an average of 97 minutes per week across the three pillars.
IT leaders’ enthusiasm for maintaining physical fitness reflected their confidence in its benefits. Babble’s research shows they are most likely to agree that it makes them more determined to succeed (79%), better motivate their team (78%) and build relationships with key stakeholders (76%). This is a positive step in a world where technology never turns off, so tech leaders should ensure they maintain this momentum.
Navigating the AI ethical knife edge as a leadership team
The role of the business leader has always demanded a strong moral compass.
Babble’s research shows that leaders dedicate an average of 81 minutes a week to working on ethical matters relating to their businesses and the wider community. While it may seem odd to quantify ethics, as they’re integral to our everyday selves, this provides a useful marker for business leaders on how much time they spend consciously developing ethical fitness through activities such as pro-bono work, the development of a sustainability strategy or building a plan for the responsible use of AI.
With the rise of AI, IT leaders have been thrust into the heart of a complex ethical minefield. Recently there has been increasing conversation about the ethics of AI-generated voices and texts, and the use of tools such as Microsoft Copilot present questions on how humans and AI can successfully work together. While AI presents exciting opportunities, it also comes with critical ethical considerations. To navigate this new landscape effectively, leaders need to adopt a collaborative approach.
Business leaders must consciously invest time and resources in establishing a clear and shared ethical framework. Open discussions and agreed-upon principles will be crucial for making responsible decisions when deploying AI.
This collaborative approach extends beyond simply creating ethical guidelines. Leaders need to actively guide teams as they grapple with some of the most intricate ethical dilemmas surrounding AI. From issues of bias in algorithms to concerns about data privacy, these challenges require careful consideration and leadership from the top. By working together, CEOs and IT leaders can unlock the full potential of AI while ensuring its responsible and ethical implementation.
The future leader
Technology’s relentless pace forces leaders to adapt or be left behind. Embrace the opportunities by becoming a lifelong learner, leading with agility and prioritising your human team. Mastering these three pillars is the key to leading in a constantly evolving landscape.
