1. Evolution
of the CEO
To survive in today’s business climate, CEOs must be able to articulate their decisions and be prepared to
nurture others so they too feel comfortable in sharing the burden of leadership. Criticaleye reports
T he scrutiny placed on modern business
leaders is greater than ever before.
The sheer speed at which decisions must
to. I walk in a room and everybody watches
whether I smile, where I sit, to whom I talk. I
had been a senior person at Atos for the last
the flow of information more immediate and
unstructured,” says Mark Powles, CEO of
Business Stream, a subsidiary of Scottish Water.
be made and strategies enacted across an five years but the attention that is paid to the “This puts a greater personal responsibility
organisation, coupled with employees, CEO and what I project is incredible, and it’s on the CEO to understand and respond to
customers and shareholders expecting ever meant that I’ve had to learn to balance my threats and opportunities when engaging with
more communication, means today’s CEOs natural informality that appeals to staff with customers, stakeholders and staff.”
must hone the skills needed to thrive in such a the public persona that’s required of a CEO.”
fast-paced business environment. Naturally, all stakeholders will want to see the
Regardless of ‘persona’, keeping your head and leader’s vision for the business and will hold
Chris Merry, CEO of professional services firm remaining clear and firm as to your intentions him/her accountable for the decisions taken. In
RSM Tenon, says: “People expect a lot compared is crucial. Andy Blundell, Chief Executive of many cases they will also want to feel part of that
to what they did ten years ago, in terms of what outsourced customer marketing supplier vision. Therefore, while CEOs must still lead and
they get from the top of the business; what they Communisis, says: “It is important to be able make it clear where the buck stops it is also vital
are told, how they are told it and how frequently to clearly articulate the company’s identity and that they are seen to be inclusive and transparent
they are communicated with. It’s up to modern growth strategy to any audience, very quickly… in their leadership style and that, where
CEOs to rise to the challenge.” the CEO must set the tone in terms of work appropriate, they invite others to participate in
ethic and spreading the fundamental belief how the business is shaped and grown.
If there’s one skill that has gained prominence that the company will succeed.”
it is the ability to communicate with aplomb, David Turner, CEO of outsourced contact
and to do so particularly in the harsh glare of The need to connect via different media centre company HEROtsc, comments: “Even
the spotlight: both internal and external. with teams that are dispersed across if people don’t necessarily agree with the
different countries presents additional decisions you’ve made, as long as it’s done
Ursula Morgenstern, a first-time CEO at IT challenges in terms of communication solidly and they can see the argument has
provider Atos UK, comments: “The sheer and engagement. “The emergence of been created, by and large you’ll get more
public attention takes some getting used multichannel communications has made people following you than not. For instance, I
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