McKinsey senior partners Carolyn Dewar and Michael Birshan discuss the dilemma faced by new CEOs: focus on short-term results or invest in long-term future. They highlight the benefits of a long-term perspective and share research on company performance. They emphasize the strategic reallocation of capital and resources, including human capital. The impact of digital on traditional retail and the importance of building platforms and networks are explored. The challenges and necessary skills to succeed as a CEO are also discussed.
Companies prioritizing a long-term perspective experience higher revenue growth, economic profit, and job creation.
Successful CEOs pivot from short-term gains to long-term growth by implementing strategic moves and realigning organizational structure.
Deep dives
Long-Term Orientation Leads to Greater Success for Companies
Companies that adopt a long-term orientation tend to outperform their peers on various metrics. They experience 47% more revenue growth, 81% higher economic profit, and create more jobs. Long-term firms also show greater market cap and earnings growth. The pressure for short-term performance has been increasing due to factors like activist investors. Research confirms that companies prioritizing the long-term perspective reap significant benefits in terms of performance and value creation.
Navigating the Short-Term versus Long-Term Dilemma for New CEOs
Newly appointed CEOs often face the dilemma of focusing on quick results or investing in the company's long-term future. Research suggests that CEOs who prioritize the long-term orientation achieve superior performance. Pivoting from a short-term to a long-term focus requires strategic moves and significant effort. Successful CEOs who make this pivot tend to have a track record of previous CEO positions and industry experience. They also implement a sequence of strategic moves and strategically realign their organizational structure to balance short-term gains with long-term growth potential.
Creating a Long-Term Vision and Engaging Stakeholders
For CEOs looking to drive long-term success, it is crucial to create a compelling long-term vision and engage key stakeholders, including the board and investors. CEOs must effectively communicate the vision, align expectations, and build momentum by making early bold moves. Initiating a strategic review early on and appraising the current state of the organization are vital steps. CEOs can then translate insights into strategic decisions and set markers for success. Engaging the board and investors, who share a long-term perspective, is essential to gain support for the strategic shift.
Reallocation of Resources and Talent for Long-Term Success
To drive long-term value creation, CEOs must reallocate both financial and human capital. Reallocating financial capital involves making bold moves, investing upfront for future success, and wisely redirecting resources. CEOs can strategically shift the allocation of capital and investments to drive growth and performance in the long term. Additionally, talent reallocation is crucial, focusing on pivotal roles and ensuring A players are in key positions. Human capital should be agile, adaptable, and deployed effectively to support the long-term priorities and strategic goals of the organization.
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 41:41) > Today we’re talking with two McKinsey senior partners about a dilemma that many new CEOs face: should they focus on showing quick results or invest in the company’s long-term future, even at the expense of short-term returns? Carolyn Dewar and Michael Birshan help new leaders grapple with the dual imperatives of producing immediate results while establishing the foundation for lasting success. In their conversation with Strategy & Corporate Finance communications director Sean Brown, they also share research on the impact of a long-term focus on company performance and CEO fortunes.