Asunción, IP Agency.- In a new edition of Tribuna on Paraguay TV, the prominent human resources expert, writer and vice president of Human Resources at Citibank for Latin America, Alfredo Pajés, offered a deep insight into leadership in the 21st century. With more than 25 years of experience in managing high-performance teams, institutional marketing and social responsibility, Pajés focused on the soft skills required by modern leaders, a key issue in the evolution of global leadership.
During the interview, Pajés highlighted that one of the most fundamental skills that today’s leaders must develop is the ability to adapt. «I believe that one of the fundamental things that we leaders have to take into account for this century is to exercise a little that capacity for adaptation, that plasticity in terms of attitude, in terms of the desire to want to generate new things in a generation. that we have to live today, which is spectacular,” he said. This mental plasticity, he explained, allows leaders to move with agility in changing and challenging environments, something essential in an increasingly interconnected and dynamic world.
Pajés was emphatic in pointing out that traditional approaches to leadership, where leaders were followed solely because of their knowledge or experience, are no longer enough. «What we cannot do is be leaders who were born perhaps in the 70s, in the 80s, and we want to lead under that premise from which we are coming, with that traditional school that they taught us: ‘do this because I say and because that’s how it has to be’. Today people no longer follow leaders only because of what they know, what they know or what they are experts at. That’s just a small part,” explained Pajés.
One of the most interesting points he highlighted was the concept of credibility as a key asset for modern leaders. «Today people follow leaders more because of the congruence they show, because of the credibility they generate, because they do what they say they are going to do. So we are more in the spotlight all the time, and people don’t follow us because of what we know, they follow us because we are consistent,” said Pajés. According to the expert, this coherence between what is said and what is done not only strengthens trust within teams, but also boosts the commitment of members to achieve goals together.
Additionally, Pajés emphasized the change in the way leaders must communicate, in an era dominated by social networks and digital platforms. «Especially also in what you are saying, the way we communicate. It is not only traditional media, it is social networks, one generates one’s own network, one can generate one’s own image as well,” he commented, emphasizing that leaders are in constant public exposure and that each action has a significant impact on their image. and in the perception of the teams.
The conversation also touched on the power of personal branding in modern leadership. «I always tell leaders, remember that you are communicating more when you don’t speak than when you are doing it, because all the time today we are in a shop window. Maybe 20, 30 percent of what you say is something that is materialized through words, you are experts in that, but 70 percent remains in what you are doing, in your actions, in your attitude, in how your friends, your work team, your boss see you,” Pajés explained. The idea that leaders are constantly being watched in all aspects of their lives, whether professional or personal, reinforces the importance of acting consistently at all times.
The expert also addressed the role of transformational leaders, who not only inspire teams, but also accompany them in achieving joint objectives. «It is not like we said before, the leader has to be followed, the leader has to be inspired. Today the team accompanies you, the team does not follow you,” commented Pajés. This shift in leadership dynamics, where the leader becomes a facilitator and partner rather than an authoritarian figure, is critical for modern times.
Pajés highlighted the importance of inspiration in leadership, especially in times when teams face great challenges. “I think one of the worst things is being with people or leaders because I can be with a leader out of obligation, not by choice,” he said. This type of leadership, in which the team follows the leader by inspiration and not by imposition, fosters greater motivation and commitment, which translates into superior performance.
Finally, Alfredo Pajés made it clear that leadership in the 21st century requires a profound transformation, where adaptability, congruence and the ability to inspire teams become essential. “This mental plasticity of a leader, no matter if he is 40, 50, 60 or 70 years old, is what we need to be able to lead in this 21st century that has extraordinary challenges,” concluded the expert, underlining the importance of being prepared for the challenges of a new era.
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