Leaders in Beta: Testing What Works

Leaders in Beta: Most likely as a leader, you use one or more online services that are ‘in beta’: the service is available for use whilst still in development. These user experiences during the beta phase provides invaluable feedback for the developers to improve the product, and further enhance the user’s experience. They test what works, and then build from there, and continue to improve the product.

Authors like Seth Godin, Hugh MacLeod and Derek Sivers have also embraced this idea from a marketing perspective, i.e. not waiting to ‘ship’ creative ideas until the final version, but they start small and continuously improve upon the feedback from their fans.

Due to the complex challenges we face in the world right now, leaders would benefit tremendously by embracing a ‘beta mindset’ by not only having a clear, long-term vision of where they want to go, but also being able to adapt quickly, by continually collaborating with those that are affected by their leadership.

Lessons From Generation Y Leaders

The idea of leaders being in ‘beta’ is already being practiced globally by a breed of young leaders. Millennials, also called Generation Y, are accustomed to continuously getting immediate feedbackby being tuned in to their social network. These young leaders bring this outlook on life with them in their professional and entrepreneurial endeavors. They seem to have embraced a natural beta mindset .

This generation has a strong faith in their own skills while still being open -even eager- to receive feedback from others for improvement. They collaborate  easily with others, because they understand that is the only way to reach their big goals. The do this without a need to protect position or status. These leaders have a vivid imagination of a better future, whilst presently taking baby steps and doing the work that needs to be done at the moment. They know, in the end, it is not about themselves, but about the impact of their actions on the people they serve.

Keys to Creating a ‘Leaders in Beta’ Mindset

Leaders in beta is a mixture of ambition with humility. For the leader, it requires the understanding that it is ok not to know everything. That it is a great gift to get honest feedback because it helps you to improve your performance. It starts with accepting that you yourself, as a leader, are in perpetual beta mode. Everyday, there’s a new you, ready to do what is necessary while pursuing the long term perspective.

For many of those online services we use every day, we accept their beta status. We don’t mind paying for the service, and we accept a responsibility for improving the product as long as we get enough added value for the fee we pay.

In the current context, accepting the beta status for leaders is imperative for change. There’s an urgent need for a complete re-design of society, of the economy, institutions and communities, to better serve the common good. This challenge needs inclusive and collaborative leaders, ambitious, and humble enough to see their main task to test what does work and what does not, on our way to a better future.

It doesn’t stop there. As we follow those other leaders, it’s our responsibility to provide feedback whilst following their leadership. The time of “consumption only” is gone, which is a good thing; deep down, we all want to have a meaningful contribution to the world around us …that’s human nature. Talking about nature, nature itself is built around the beta concept, it’s called evolution. Life on this planet as we know it has always been in beta status. It’s the species most adaptable to change that survive, and the leaders living the beta mindset that thrive. There is no need for radical changes, we must start small, step by step – testing what works, and making changes.

Lets keep the conversation going. What “updates” will you install today to enhance your internal operating system? What user feedback offers valuable insights for your performance? How can your leadership service get better by embracing collaboration with your users? Are you ready to launch yourself as a leader in beta?

Please leave a comment below.

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