90% Global CEOs are becoming more Relational and Adaptive

A study by EgonZehnder reveals that 90 percent of CEOs have reported that they have moved to the center of increasingly louder, more diverse and diverging voices. When questioned about the impact of the recent circumstances on their organisation, majority CEOs highlighted, accelerated decision making and change, and greater economic uncertainty.

83 percent of the leaders find it necessary to reflect on their own leadership style – up from 66 percent as per the 2018 study, The CEO: A Personal Reflection. CEOs are expanding their ability to be adaptive, relational, and becoming self-aware. Most of them are committed to listening to diverse perspectives, and are increasingly seeking feedback from new places – including team members, chairs, mentors, consultants, and other CEOs. Additionally, female CEOs are more likely to gather feedback from a wide range of sources. They are also more likely, than their male counterparts, to seek guidance from fellow CEOs, mentors, and family members.

EgonZehnder, the world’s preeminent leadership advisory firm has announced the results of a study which surveyed 972 CEOs worldwide, capturing the pulse on how CEO roles and expectations are evolving at the hand of momentous global challenges and emerging trends. The study uncovered that self-reflection and personal development have jumped to be among the top of CEO priorities as they become increasingly self-aware, realizing that the key to prosperity is to improve the human side of their leadership.

The study also uncovered that 78 percent of CEOs strongly believe that they need to continue and improve upon their self-transformation three times as much from 2018. CEOs also strongly agree on the importance of the dual journey – a path where leaders believe viewing their personal development and their organisation’s growth as an interrelated journey that will ultimately bring optimal change. An analysis of open-ended answers has shown that nearly 500 CEOs, more than half of all respondents, see relational capabilities as a key blind spot. Specifically, less than half of CEOs (44 percent) report they feel fully aligned with their teams, and even fewer with their boards – pointing to heightened levels of tension and increased need for collaboration.

As heightened demands for workplace equality and new pressures around hybrid work continue to dramatically shape business culture, CEOs worldwide are re-evaluating their role, how they engage with their team, as well as how they hold their organization – and themselves – accountable for making their businesses future-ready. Today, CEOs view prioritizing their own development and tapping into the intrinsic sources of energy of the people in their organizations as crucial to navigating through complex business environments.

“CEOs recognize that today’s unprecedented business complexities require a significant shift in leadership and that change must begin by looking inward with new levels of self-reflection and personal development. This isn’t self-indulgent naval gazing; it’s what our teams, organizations and stakeholders expect of our CEOs,” said Jill Ader, Global Chairwoman,EgonZehnder. “Now, more than ever, traditional business acumen must be equally balanced with empathy and compassion in order to gain their teams’ and organizations’ emotional commitment, navigate business complexities and build productive, inspiring workplaces.”