In this podcast, Elena Botelho, partner at leadership advisory firm ghSMART and coleader of its CEO Genome Project, discusses the behaviors of successful CEOs. Research reveals that charisma, confidence, and pedigree have little impact. Instead, successful CEOs prioritize quick decision making, engaging for impact, adapting proactively, and delivering reliably. The significance of reliability and the ability to adapt to change are highlighted. A story of a CEO who transformed a struggling company through innovation and quick decision making is also shared.
Research shows that introverted CEOs can be more successful than extroverted CEOs based on their behaviors and actions.
The educational background of CEOs, including Ivy League education, does not significantly impact their performance or success in the role.
Deep dives
Key Point 1: The Most Effective CEOs Can Be Introverts
Contrary to popular belief, research shows that introverted CEOs are slightly more likely to be successful in their roles than extroverted CEOs. The analysis found that introverted CEOs who exceeded expectations demonstrated behaviors that led to their success. This suggests that it's not about what CEOs are born with, but rather how they behave and act, which can be changed.
Key Point 2: Educational Background Does Not Determine CEO Success
The data analysis revealed that the number of CEOs who graduated from Ivy League institutions was roughly equal to those who did not graduate from college at all. The performance of CEOs was not significantly influenced by their educational background. This finding challenges the assumption that Ivy League education guarantees success and suggests that other factors play a more critical role.
Key Point 3: Decision-Making Speed and Reliability Are Key CEO Behaviors
The research highlights the significance of two essential behaviors for successful CEOs: decisive decision-making speed and reliable delivery of results. The study shows that the best CEOs make decisions swiftly, even if they only have 70% of the desired information, enabling the organization to move forward with clarity. Moreover, consistent and reliable delivery of outcomes is the most powerful behavior for long-term success, surpassing other behaviors in terms of effectiveness.
For the qualities that top-performing CEOs have in common, research shows some surprising results. It turns out that charisma, confidence, and pedigree all have little bearing on CEO success. Elena Botelho, partner at leadership advisory firm ghSMART and coleader of its CEO Genome Project, studied high performers in the corner office. The analysis found that they demonstrated four business behaviors: quick decision making, engaging for impact, adapting proactively, and delivering reliably. Botelho cowrote the HBR article “What Sets Successful CEOs Apart.”
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