Today’s best CEOs lead with empathy and humility

McKinsey&Company

Dealers in hope ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 
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McKinsey & Company
On Point | TODAY'S NEWS. TOMORROW'S INSIGHTS
On Point | TODAY'S NEWS. TOMORROW'S INSIGHTS
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The news
Going rogue. CEOs losing jobs because of workplace misconduct happens surprisingly often for such a smart cohort. The job itself can enable bad behavior by isolating leaders, who can become entitled, overawed by their own supposed importance, and unwilling to admit mistakes or recognize competition. The word hubris comes to mind. [WSJ]
Be a rock. Strong leaders of hybrid workforces strive to create stability when everything is in flux. They do this in three main ways: first, by clarifying the company’s policies, priorities, job descriptions, and anything else shrouded in doubt. They also focus on top-notch written and verbal communication. Last, they manage conflict calmly—for example, by inviting a colleague to meet one-on-one rather than sending an angry email. [Fast Company]
“Humility helps you to recognize that you don’t know everything, so in moments of crisis you reach out for help; you learn. That’s quite different from the charismatic I-know-everything CEO of popular myth.”
Our insights
Master class. In their upcoming book, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest, McKinsey senior partners Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, and Vik Malhotra offer leadership lessons from 67 CEOs of some of the world’s most successful companies. The CEOs interviewed were “amazing at setting the direction and having a bold vision” for their companies but had to course-correct when something would inevitably go wrong.
Chief cup washer. The CEOs of companies including Mastercard, Lockheed Martin, and Dupont have faced tough obstacles over the years. Many of the best CEOs dig deep into traits including empathy, resilience, and humility to steer their companies. In a moving tale, Netflix’s Reed Hastings told of learning, as a young engineer, that the person who washed his coffee cups every morning was the CEO of the company. Read on for more surprising examples of the best leadership traits and tactics.
— Edited by Katy McLaughlin   
Learn from the best CEOs
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by "McKinsey On Point" <publishing@email.mckinsey.com> - 12:27 - 14 Mar 2022