What A New CEO Needs to Convey

What do you want from a new CEO?

Or any new executive?

If you've been following this weeks brief posts--here and here --you know that I've been involved in the first week of a CEO transition. But from a practical point of view, what does that really mean to employees in an organization?

I'm watching the answer to that question unfold here in a video editing studio while the final cut of an interview with the new CEO is being compressed and ready for upload to the company's intranet. This is what the employees will see from their new leader:

1. A conversationalist vs. a presenter. They'll feel as if they've been part of a conversation, not part of an audience.

2. Someone who knows the issues. He'll share his initial impressions of what's working and what isn't.

3. Direction. They'll know what will be important in near term.

4. Philosophy, but only briefly. People will know what he pays attention to over the long run, and in what order.

5. There will be change and there will be context for "why."

6. He knows where the employees excel and says so. He knows where performance is not exceptional, and says so.

7. Everyone will hear that he wouldn't have assumed the role had he not had a genuine belief in the future of the company and the commitment of the people working there.

8. There is a single focus around which things will be measured in the short run. But that only makes sense in the context of the long term strategy.

9. They'll see an individual who has worked in, or led, almost every function in a corporation. The professional confidence factor will be high.

Most of all, they will have a genuine reason to be hopeful about the future.

Because of 1-9.

Take a look at the combination of truth, conversation and direction. That's why people will be energized--and hopeful.

And hopeful is what we all want to be.

Comments

[Alexander Kjerulf]

Those are great points.

You know what else I would want to see? Some passion.

Some indication that the new CEO is in this company because he is passionate about the organization, the culture, the potential, the product, the people or something else.

That he or she is not just there for the paycheck and the stock options.

But maybe that's just me - I can only work with believers. People who don't believe in what they do (and therefore have no passion) make me uncomfortable.

[Steve Roesler]

That's a powerful point, Alex--he whole sense of knowing that someone "believes."

You know, I realize now how many times he uses the words "I really believe" during the video (am still watching the replay during edit). It's fascinating how the "passion" comes through in tone, body language, and what I would call the profound simplicity of the message.

As always, thanks for weighing in. . .

[peter vajda]

Hi Steve,

So, on one end of the screen is the new CEO...whom folks will now see and hear. On the other, the employees. In addition to employees experiencing this event,i.e., their seeing and hearing, I'm curious about what they'll be thinking, sensing and feeling...how will you/the CEO know? Even thpough the CEO is passionate and believes, wonder what the employees' initial reaction/response might be. Anyone have their finger on their emotional/thinking pulse?

[Steve Roesler]

Hello there, Peter.

Ah, the right question at the right moment, as always.

The road trip starts next week.

Steve