It’s been a grueling five years with the bailouts, rampant unemployment, declining home values, and rising prices, which have manifested as insecurity, fear, and stress, and for those who are employed—overwork. Employees have been harassed into productivity for so long they’re either running on autopilot, hoping things will change, or are actively seeking new jobs.

And let’s be honest: As a leader you’re as burned out as they are. You know in your heart the only way to make it in the global economy is to get people engaged, motivated, and passionate about their work. But trying to do so with your worn-down spirit is a bit like fueling a rocket ship with tepid bath water.

The old ways of leadership, the old rules, might as well be hieroglyphics on a cave wall. Organizations have to change the way they lead their people. The future belongs to those companies that create change in their favor and in a direction that’s good for others. That requires a business model in which there simply are no sharply defined leaders and followers.

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