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What Makes A Great CEO?
Strategy Skill Set and Operations Background are Critical to CEO Success, According to a Survey Conducted by TheLadders.com <BackNEW YORK, NY (January 29, 2009) - As corporate cutbacks and layoffs become the norm in the current economy, employees, now more than ever, depend on the strong leadership of their corporate chief to steer the company in the right direction. In this turbulent financial market, what does it take for a CEO to achieve success in the C-suite? According to a survey conducted by TheLadders.com, the world's leading online platform for the $100k+ job market, a majority of $100k+ job seekers feel Strategy is the most important skill set of a great CEO.
Following were some of the survey's key findings:
Strategy is Key
When asked what skill set or personality trait is most important in a CEO, a majority of executives in the $100k+ job market selected:
- Strategy - 33.6%
- Accountability - 23.0%
- Ethics - 22.7%
- Approachability - 8.5%
- Creativity - 6.5%
- Industry Expertise - 5.6%
Operational Excellence
Regarding the best background for a CEO to have in order to be successful, respondents answered:
- Operations - 36.8%
- Sales - 19.4%
- Marketing - 15.4%
- Accounting - 13.4%
- Human Resources - 6.7%
- Technology - 4.3%
- Academia - 2.0%
- Government - 1.0%
- Legal - 1.0%
The C-Suite is for Coaches
Among executive level job seekers, the archetype that best embodies the attributes that make a good CEO is:
- The Coach - 39.3%
- The Genius Visionary - 24.3%
- The Quarterback - 23.8%
- The Warrior - 4.0%
- The Maverick - 3.6%
- The Professor - 2.6%
- The Best Friend - 1.2%
- The Charmer - 0.7%
- The Swashbuckler - 0.6%
Executive level job seekers were also asked to weigh in on additional topics including how to measure a CEO's performance, compensation and which industry has the best CEOs. Key findings include:
- 28.3% said Creating a Corporate Culture is the most important criterion on which a CEO's performance should be evaluated. Coming in at a close second is Operational Excellence with 26.9%.
- 42.7% felt the industry with the best CEOs is Technology.
- 65.7% believe CEOs would be effective working in the government.
- 70% said performance-based pay packages are how senior executives should be compensated.
A total of 1,063 executives responded to the survey, which was conducted on TheLadders.com Web site between November, 2008 and December, 2008, with a margin of error of +/- 3.0%.
About TheLadders.com:
TheLadders.com is the world's largest online service catering exclusively to the $100k+ job market. Our job is to make the search for senior talent and senior positions quick and effective. With access to the most $100k+ job leads in one place, senior level professionals can get to the next step in their careers faster. Top recruiters value the ability to quickly and easily connect with so much qualified talent in the sales, marketing, finance, HR, legal, tech and operations industries. Founded in 2003 by Marc Cenedella, TheLadders.com has grown into the largest specialty employment website. In addition to traditional job search services, TheLadders.com also provides a host of specialized career development resources, including a proven, one-on-one resume service; advice from career experts; customized online profiles; and e-mail alerts. TheLadders.com is headquartered in New York with offices in London. For more information, please visit www.theladders.com or www.theladders.co.uk.