|
 Over
the past two decades, we’ve interviewed 300 CEOs
in 40 countries to identify the key characteristics
of world-class leaders. Recently, we analyzed
these interviews with a focus on CEOs from companies
with strong track records, high Fortune rankings,
demonstrable growth, and inclusion in most admired
lists—both during and after the CEO’s tenure.
What
Great Leaders Do
From our CEO research and long experience helping leaders to build healthy,
high-performing companies, we’ve found that great CEOs share five attributes:
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“Only
by earning people’s trust and respect will you gain influence
over them. People will do what you ask not because they have to but
because they want to. They want to prove to you that they can do it.
So you empower people to do more than they ever thought they could
do themselves.”
—Isadore
Sharp, CEO,
Four Seasons Hotels
and Resorts |
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- They
are genuine. Great
CEOs are forthright in assessing their own strengths and shortcomings.
They exhibit a personal authenticity and genuine interest in
others that fosters trust and inspires top performance.
- They
are comfortable with uncertainty. Great CEOs consciously
detach themselves from the status quo to turn the anxiety that
accompanies change into productive energy.
- They
are intensely focused on the human side of business.
Great CEOs believe in investing in people first, and see
finances as the business’s scorecard.
- They
are committed to growth. Great CEOs challenge
the company to grow faster and use a disciplined process
to encourage experimentation and to build a sustainable
growth culture.
- They
are obsessed with execution. Great CEOs exude
enthusiasm and confidence while instilling in others
a keen desire to keep their agreements, fulfill their
obligations, and produce quality products and services.
The world’s best CEOs are distinguished not just by their exceptional abilities, but by how they choose to lead each day.
Ask yourself...
- Which of these attributes do the people I lead
see in me?
- Do I want to redirect some of my energies as
a leader?
- What steps can I take today to be more like
the world’s best CEOs?
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