Leading Through Connections – What CEOs Can Learn from the Global IBM Study
A recently released study, Leading Through Connections, from IBM of more that 1,700 CEOs from over 64 countries provides some interesting insights into emerging trends and issues impacting organizations worldwide.
Top Trends Identified
- Advancements in social technologies to engage with customers, employees, partners, investors and the world at large
- 50% of CEOs expect social channels to be a primary way of engaging customers within 5 years
- Complexity of increased levels of connectedness of organizations, markets, societies and governments
- Overflow of data and information
You have been hired to fill a need in your organization. While some bosses know exactly what they want, many don’t, or at least have difficulty in expressing it. They have hired you to make their life easier and you must keep in mind that you are 100% responsible for creating and maintaining this relationship. Think of your boss as your best customer, and do what you need to do to make them happy and keep buying your brand.
A few years ago, I worked with a group of executives selected to undertake some research into issues impacting employee engagement and innovation. The key finding of our study was the importance of trust in leadership as a foundation for job satisfaction, motivation, engagement and effectiveness. Additional primary research was conducted with over 100 staff members across the organization to better understand how, as leaders, we can create a culture of trust in both our organizations and our personal lives. The results showed the importance of being consistent, the need for a clear vision and strategy, personal integrity, sharing and delegation of power, open communication and a personal touch. The main findings are highlighted below.