Category: Leadership
Audience: Leaders
Overview: This article highlights the extensive research on what sets successful CEOs apart, emphasizing four counterintuitive strategies, including the importance of coaching B-plus players into top performers, which is crucial for building future leaders and driving organizational growth.
Read Time: 3 minutes
There was extensive research conducted on what successful CEO’s do differently or consistently.
The article refers to it as being perhaps ‘counterintuitive’. But my favorite research finding stood out.
However, I believe some of this information applies to anyone leading others at any level.
See what you think.
I just finished reading a post on Fortune that said…’three consultants analyzed more than 20 years’ worth of data on:
7,800 CEOs from
3,500 public companies across
70 countries and in
24 industries to identify high-performing CEOs whose companies grew healthier during their tenures.’
It went on to say there were ‘4 counterintuitive findings that were uncovered.’
And they were…
- CEOs reframe what ‘winning’ means
- They focus on one thing and ‘drive the heck out of it’
- They’re extremely aware and protective of where they spend their time
And my favorite…
‘Excellent leaders are quick to rid themselves of C-players. But they’re amazing coaches to B-plus players, transforming them into A-minus players and molding A-minus players into A-players. They spend a lot of time coaching people to perform at their best…’
This immediately reminded me of a post I read about the new CEO of Shake Shack, Rob Lynch.
He was selected by Danny Meyer, a well-known investor and entrepreneur in the food and hospitality sector. Mr. Meyer said the one outstanding reason Rob Lynch was selected was because of what many of the board members found when interviewing candidates.
Several of the individuals contacted in other organizations became high-level leaders within those organizations and beyond and had been developed and mentored by Mr. Lynch. Those individuals created another generation and legacy of leaders.
You may have employees within your own organization who may be in the wrong position…or even the wrong industry…or worse the wrong company.
You may have others who need more mentoring/coaching. Who in your organization has a track record of helping develop skills in others?
And you may have others who are open to and want more mentoring/coaching. They are your next generation of leaders.
How will you develop them?
We don’t get anywhere alone.
We have mentors and coaches both formally or informally. I had a phenomenal mentor early in my career and am forever grateful for his knowledge, teachings, compassion, even his humor…and especially his belief in me. I work every day to pay this forward.
I sometimes hear leaders say things like ‘I don’t have the time to mentor’ or ‘I don’t have the time to coach.’
But talented employees are your rock stars – Find them. Develop them. Keep them.
And remember…Yes, it takes time.
Value? Priceless.
Read the original research article – 4 Unconventional Leadership Strategies from Top CEOs
Cynthia Kyriazis is the Chief Experience Officer at The Culture Think Tank. Her experience includes executive coaching, consulting, and training. Book a 15-minute chat to discuss your people, performance or profit challenges.
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