What is the leadership evolution? Roberto Aghaei works for BD and is the Field Service Engineer Team Lead for IDS (Integrated Diagnostic Solutions) Nordic. He is based in the Oslo area of Norway. Roberto has been a member of The Field Engineer Community since 2023 and has appeared in the blog regularly.

In this article he discusses leadership evolution and the importance of breaking the norms to build the future.

Roberto Aghaei author of leadership evolution

The leadership evolution: breaking the norms to build the future

Rethinking Leadership: Aligning Vision, Action, and Execution for a Thriving Organization

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations that adapt, innovate, and align leadership effectively are the ones that thrive. While most companies have talented individuals in leadership positions, success often depends on ensuring the right type of leadership is in the right place—balancing vision, execution, and decision-making when it matters most.
To navigate this balance, it’s useful to understand three key leadership styles and how each plays a role in shaping a company’s future.

Finding the Right Fit

1. The Boss – A Leadership Tool for Critical Moments

The traditional “boss” mindset is often associated with authority and control. When overused, this style can limit creativity and engagement, as employees may feel their input isn’t valued. However, the boss role has a crucial purpose in leadership—when it is used at the right time.
In situations where too many voices, opinions, or indecision create stagnation, a strong leader must be able to step in, take control, and make the final call. When no consensus is reached and action is needed, bringing out the “boss” ensures that:

Decisions are made and implemented.
Projects move forward instead of being stuck in endless discussions.
Teams remain focused and aligned, even in challenging situations.
A true leader understands when to listen and collaborate, and when to take charge.

2. The Manager – The Engine of Operational Excellence

Managers play an essential role in ensuring that daily operations run smoothly. Their ability to:

Organize and structure workflows,
Support employees in their roles,
Ensure consistency and efficiency,
… makes them indispensable for keeping a company running effectively. However, managers often focus on maintaining what works today, rather than driving the transformation needed for the future.

For long-term success, organizations need leadership that looks beyond the present.

3. The Leader – The Architect of Change and Innovation in the leadership evolution

A leader is someone who sees the bigger picture, understands that staying at the top requires continuous evolution, and activates people to push for progress. Unlike managers, leaders are not just focused on the present but are constantly thinking about where the company needs to be in 5, 10, or 15 years.
Strong leaders:

Encourage innovation and push for continuous improvement.
Make bold, strategic decisions for long-term success.
Create an active environment where ideas are not just discussed but implemented.

A key challenge many organizations face is that they welcome new ideas but fail to act on them. Employees are encouraged to think creatively, yet great suggestions often get lost in layers of approval, hesitation, or lack of prioritization.
A true leader ensures that promising ideas are supported—not just in words, but in action.

How to Make Sure Great Ideas Are Not Lost?

Having a vision is one thing—ensuring it turns into reality is another. Many organizations struggle with execution, and great ideas often disappear due to slow processes, lack of ownership, or the wrong leadership structures. To truly build a culture where innovation thrives and leadership works in harmony, companies must implement the following strategies.

1. A Clear System for Capturing Ideas

Ideas don’t just come from leadership—they come from the people who are closest to the work. To ensure valuable insights don’t get lost, organizations must establish:

A structured idea pipeline where employees can submit suggestions easily.
A system that ensures every idea is reviewed, categorized, and assigned a priority.
A transparent process where employees know the status of their ideas.

This prevents the common issue of great ideas getting buried in endless emails or forgotten in meetings.

2. Assign Direct Ownership for Execution

Once an idea is recognized as valuable, it needs a champion. Ideas often fail when they are treated as “good suggestions” instead of “business priorities.” Organizations must ensure:

Every idea that is approved has a clear owner responsible for its execution.
Progress is tracked with measurable timelines and milestones.
Leaders check in regularly to ensure forward momentum.
Accountability is what turns ideas into reality.

3. Make Decision-Making Agile

One of the biggest barriers to innovation is slow, bureaucratic approval processes. Organizations that want to stay ahead must:

Empower mid-level leaders and managers to approve and implement smaller innovations quickly.
Create a leadership structure where decisions don’t always require endless meetings.
Ensure leaders know when to step in as ‘the boss’ to make critical calls when needed.

The faster an idea is tested and implemented, the faster a company can grow.

4. Measure Success and Celebrate Wins

To create a culture where innovation is valued, leaders must:

Regularly track the impact of new initiatives.
Recognize employees who contribute to meaningful changes.
Showcase how these ideas have improved the company.

When employees see that their ideas lead to real change, they become more engaged, more proactive, and more invested in the company’s success.

Final Thoughts on Leadership Evolution: The Leadership Model for the Future

Leadership isn’t about choosing one style over another—it’s about knowing when to manage, when to lead, and when to take charge. Organizations that strike this balance create:
• Engaged employees who feel heard and valued.
• A leadership structure that drives both stability and innovation.
• A company that doesn’t just operate efficiently—but thrives.

By ensuring that great ideas are not just heard but acted upon, organizations will position themselves as industry leaders for years to come.