The only certainty for the coming decade is uncertainty!

How has leadership in shipping changed over the past 10–15 years, and where is it still lagging behind?

"Historically", the focus of leadership, the way to develop as a leader and the requirements set were very much along the lines of technical and functional knowledge: operations, finance, commercial, technical. Nowadays, with an integrating industry (mergers and acquisitions) and a more and more globalised playing field, the leadership challenges have become more complex.

International environment and managing different cultures (internal and external) ask for more soft skills on top, all bound together by strong communicative skills. This, together with a hugely increased focus on sustainability needs and goals as well as the geopolitical changes/turmoil in the area the shipping industry plays its role, do change the "ideal leadership profile". The world has become more volatile and the way management teams have to play is more complex than ever before. And we are already in the next wave of change: digitisation, robotisation and artificial intelligence. All factors that did not play a role 10-15 years ago, or at least not to this level. And the pace of change in technology as well as the social world in which we operate is accelerating every day, and not coming to a plateau at all.

Why do strong technical experts often struggle when they move into leadership roles in shipping?

This is not specific for shipping but for many industries. However definitely in shipping and logistics, historically male driven environments where being good at "something" together with seniority often was incentivised with a vertical development of the career path, until (senior) management levels. As in the first question, the tasks of a leader in this global complex industry reach well beyond the technical skills only. With more focus on strategic challenges, changing environment but also a transforming internal organisation where diversity (more female participation at senior level and in teams) asks for different soft skills which historically, or in only one's own comfortable environment, are not enough to perform at a high level in the new world.

In a global and high-pressure industry like shipping, what mindset is most critical for leaders today?

Given the increasingly complex environment in which companies and their leaders operate, it is simply impossible for leaders to personally manage and control all aspects. Creating a team of competent leaders which really acts as a team at high performance levels is key. The leaders become more facilitators and enablers of winning teams. Managing positive, value-driven and productive team dynamics, at all levels (horizontally and vertically inside the company) will be key.

This is to manage, with collective knowledge, energy and competence, the severe external challenges and changing geopolitics outside. So at the end, leaders must ensure the company as a whole has a clear view, a strategy and is at all times adapt;e to changes in the internal and external world in which it operates. The only certainty for the coming decade is uncertainty!

How can leaders better balance operational efficiency with people management?

In my opinion, operations, and thus operations efficiency management, are the core of every organisation. And an organisation is made up of a group of people with the same goal and values (hopefully). Creating a company culture, via clearly defined and communicated values, direction and goals, is essential. To become an efficiently operating machine, it is important to create an environment where all staff understand the goals of the organisation and the individual role and support each can give. Only together, as a well-oiled team (organisation) the efficiency can be managed, and improved every day again. What are those values and company beliefs. Role for the leadership team: communication, communication, communication. And lead by example, every day again.

What impact can structured leadership learning have on both individual careers and organisational performance?

This will be more and more essential, and much more than ever before. Huge changes in the world (digitisation, AI, geopolitics, sustainability etc.) are new to everybody and are taking place at a pace a leader cannot adopt to by just acting. And the pace will continue and even pick up. And, other than with the more traditional technical/functional skills and experiences, the older generation of experienced managers cannot act as the usual mentors. Simply because all these changes and transformations are unknown and new to them. So the organisation as such cannot "develop and train" the (future) leaders to the required levels. External training, in all kind of forms will be essential. And not only for the leaders, but for all staff in the organisation and as such for the organisation as a whole. To approach this in a very structured manner and in a programmatic approach is essential to reach the most, limit waste of time and money, and stay ahead of competition.

What advice would you give to mid-career managers who want to prepare for more senior leadership roles?

A career is a marathon, not a sprint. 

• Choose your next step wisely. Not for the money, not for this short-term next step but how it can position you for the ’next-next step' Have your basics right, dare to change between functional roles (operations, commercial, financial. general)
• See that as basis and choose your manager wisely: the person you believe in, trust, can learn from and who is in the right position to give you meaningful, challenging tasks/projects. 
  - Follow training to prepare for the next level, focusing on strategy and the the transformation of the world around us
• Position yourself in working groups to train social skills and be very open for feedback (in all sorts and forms) to see where training can further support your development
• Take on the challenging requests put on you, don’t walk away for it
• Understand your organisation, be open to learn and ask yourself what you will deliver. Every day again!