Tomorrow’s CEO wanted:
“Our company is operating on a global scale, facing great opportunities but also major challenges. Our top executive team already comprises five men and six women of different nationalities. We want to break away from the pack, become an industry leader and make a lasting contribution to society as well as providing top rank shareholder returns. We are seeking a CEO who can take the company to new heights in innovation, teamwork, performance and influence at the same time as reconciling the differing demands of investors, customers, governments, regulators, partners, NGOs and the public. We’re looking for a person with clear vision; strong values; courage; empathy; accessibility; high level negotiating and interpersonal skills; a passion for teamwork; humility and a commitment to future leaders.”
Tomorrow’s Global Leader
Having focused on tomorrow’s global company, what of tomorrow’s global business leader? What personal qualities will she or he need to demonstrate in order to lead such a business?
Clear vision: Global business leaders operate in a complex, turbulent and uncertain environment. They need to be sufficiently in touch with the outside world to sense the most important trends and use these to visualise what success will mean for their company.
Strong values: Strong values are vital for tomorrow’s global company. Leaders not only set direction but also the pattern for behaviour and ethics. Vision is often largely based on values, because it representsthe destination that a leader believes a company should reach if it lives out its values.
Courage: When things are changing fast, companies need to take bold steps and move in new directions. As well as the vision to know which direction to go in, leaders need the courage to take risks, break with the pack and deal resiliently with the inevitable adversity.
Empathy: 21st century leaders meet and interact with a wide variety of people, from employees and investors to governments and NGOs. In such situations, it is vital for leaders to be culturally aware, have empathy and be able to stand in others’ shoes.
Accessibility: Effective leaders of large, dispersed organisations may have limited opportunity to meet people face to face, but they take every opportunity to interact with those at the frontline and use a range of communications media to keep in touch and listen to the views of people at all levels.
High level negotiating and interpersonal skills: In several of the challenges and choices we have examined, leaders need to negotiate at the highest levels outside the organisation. This is particularly necessary in taking a more proactive role in helping to fill the global governance vacuum and develop relationships with NGOs, governments and other companies.
A passion for teamwork: Tomorrow’s great leader will not be a ‘superhero’ who runs the company singlehandedly, but someone who will build a team from people of all backgrounds and give them space to take decisions - a very different skill.
Humility: The leader of tomorrow will accept his or her limitations. To hold a top-level leadership position in a major global company is to be in a position of considerable power and to be constantly exposed to public scrutiny. In such a role, self-belief and confidence are essential qualities, but arrogance is damaging. It is important to balance confidence with a willingness to admit one’s mistakes and keep learning. Respect is earned not through the trappings of position and power but through action and integrity.
Commitment to future leaders: Along with a teamworking approach to present-day challenges goes a commitment to developing the team of the future and knowing when to stand aside for a successor.