In the new world order, leadership is also about being socially smart

We live in interesting times. Top traditional CEOs are bitten by the new economy bug. Bankers are becoming investors. And Mr & Mrs Moneybags are going from stocks to start-ups. Common to all of them is the rise of their social quotient. Need for them to be savvy on social media, have followers and not just a following and promote their brand to those beyond their otherwise staid group and appeal to millennials. Beyond this, it's also about being socially smart. Being 'social.' To me the transformation of the new CEO, investor, banker and whatever you want to name them is fascinating.

When I first arrived in Mumbai, my expectation of meeting bankers was an aggressive, uni-focused, deal-hungry man. Few women were in the mix back then in 2005. Typically, we could clinch our stories out of one chamber or the other in five-star hotels. But now, ten years down, the scenario is different. It's young. It's buzzing and there's a new vigor. The old order has revived and infused an earl-grey energy. The new guys are on a different coffee-high.

The vision-to-execution CEO is out of the window. The new leader is about being socially smart. And before you jump to conclusions about what social is – wait a moment. It's a unique mix of knowing customers, being alive on social media, capturing the new trends in tech, facilitating use and ease of business, connecting with people and resolving their issues. In today's ever-changing world of technology and its human integration, there is an assortment of options to leverage and quickly adapt to the power of human consumption and communication, to drive results.

Remember what Guy Kawasaki said, "the key to entrepreneurial success is not making money, but making meaning." And I think finally a lot of rich executives have realised that this chase for bonuses and promotions is a self-made world. Instead, they now want to associate with youth where their market, intelligence and innovation lies. They want to engage with those millennials who have ideas and impact. When Tim Cook arrived in Hyderabad earlier this year, he talked about how he followed a five-point checklist. "1) Think differently; 2) Be of high integrity; 3) Communicate effectively; 4) Work with the group without ego; and, 5) Be able to propose & understand new ideas." This is beginning to seep into our new psyche. Now when I go to meet bankers they mostly admit "keep it simple and short" is the way to convince people.

The new world order is about breaking the walls, engaging with people. Letting your guard down and getting know your market, your consumers, your employees. It's also about letting them know you. It's fascinating how important relationships are to the world of business, how the idea of emotional quotient has now moved outside the textbook and turned itself into a reality.