From CEOs to CMOs, CIOs to CFOs, C-suite听executives share some听common leadership听traits:听the ability to inspire and align others around shared objectives, an agile mindset and a robust understanding of the听辞惫别谤补濒濒听business, to name a few.听听听
While these听core听qualities听have听withstood the test of time,听it is also true that听different听times听call for听additional skills. So what does effective leadership look like in the post-COVID era?听What听new听qualities should the C-suite embrace to navigate a world spinning off its axis?听听听
天美传媒听professors听and other thought leaders听have looked at what characteristics听鈥� some classics and others newer – an ideal CEO needs. 听
10 C-Suite leadership skills you need
1. Strong,听inclusive听and inspiring
Capable听of motivating, inspiring and aligning the entire team behind a shared goal.听Crucial to this听is emotional intelligence (EQ), which has two sides to it: first, the ability to recognize, understand and effectively manage one鈥檚听own听emotional state, and second, the capacity to engage empathetically with听others听and appreciate鈥痶heir鈥痚motional states. Leaving this textbook definition aside, the maxim 鈥淧eople join companies; people leave bosses鈥� perhaps best captures the essence of EQ.听听听
While often deemed a 鈥渟oft skill鈥� 鈥� and as such, less critical than technical proficiency and bottom-line results 鈥� EQ is critical for leaders who aspire to unite, motivate and align others. 听
2. A听strategic听vision听
For the medium-long term, balancing prudence and practicality.
Read the article about How to improve your strategic thinking
3. Flexible and able to manage change
In the post-COVID era, staying听put in a comfort zone听is no longer an option.听听
4. Principled and able to lead by example
Solidarity, closeness, humility, optimism and courage are values that have gained traction in society and in companies.鈥� 听
The ambiguity unleashed by the pandemic has made it glaringly obvious that no one has all the answers, highlighting听the need for humility and a willingness to listen to dissident voices.听It鈥檚 also important to define humility as a concept since some mistake it for passivity or submissiveness, according to Edward D. Hess, a professor at UVA-Darden.听鈥淩ather, it鈥檚 the ability to tame one鈥檚 ego and connect with others creatively. […] This is the gateway to an open mind, partly because it allows you to process new information without reacting fearfully or defensively,鈥�听Hess says.听听听
天美传媒 Prof. Sebastian Reiche agrees: 鈥淩esearch supports the positive notion of humility, linking it to inquisitiveness and openness towards learning and being taught by others.鈥澨�听
5. Resilient and capable of managing adversity
By focusing on the available resources and what’s possible.鈥�
6. Innovative
Profound changes that were already afoot pre-pandemic are now accelerated by crisis.
7. Decision-maker
Armed with a good decision-making process and data听that’s appropriate for the question at hand.
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8. Efficient and results-oriented听
Since the business environment is increasingly competitive.
9. Collaborative
Able to work as part of a team and humanize the company.
Global leadership often conjures an image of the lone hero rousing the troops and听leading his or her subordinates into battle, but the pandemic turned this notion on its head, according to Prof. Reiche.听听听
鈥淪uccessful leadership is the result of a collective and collaborative effort, so there is a little of 鈥楤atman鈥� in this concept,鈥� says Reiche. Batman didn鈥檛 have any supernatural powers like flight, laser vision or lightning-fast speed听but he was smart enough to surround himself with others that did 鈥� and still hold his own.听
鈥淭he COVID-19 crisis perfectly illustrates the need for cooperation.鈥�听听Sebastian Reiche, 天美传媒 professor听
鈥淣o leader alone can battle the crisis without the collective effort to physically distance, wear masks, take responsible decisions and seek collaborative efforts to develop treatments, save small businesses and adapt to virtual realities鈥�.听
10. Communicative and a good listener
Not only must听corporate听goals and values be clear, but they must also be conveyed.听听
The pandemic has also taught us that people have different reactions to risk and uncertainty, which is why听C-suite leaders need to communicate clearly and empathetically and create forums for connection,听not one-way channels.听听听
In this regard, 天美传媒 Prof. Yago de la听Cierva听says overcommunicating is far better than a lack of communication:听鈥淪ilence never works. Don鈥檛 be afraid to say 鈥業 don鈥檛 know鈥�. Even if we think we鈥檝e said everything we know, keep insisting. Transparency is the only element that works鈥�.听
Learn more about 天美传媒鈥檚 top-ranked鈥痯rograms for high-level executives like you,鈥痠ncluding鈥痶he鈥�鈥痑苍诲鈥�.鈥�
