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Hybrid working, CEO qualities & leadership regrets
In this month’s myGrapevine magazine leadership roundup, we look at how tech can help solve the problems of hybrid working, what the top qualities of a CEO are, and leadership regrets from one ex-CEO. In addition to this, we explore the skill that Duolingo’s CEO wished he had concentrated on earlier in his career…
Former WeWork CEO shares top leadership regrets
Former WeWork CEO shares top leadership regrets
As entrepreneurs become more and more successful, it is not uncommon for them to glance back and look at their accomplishments and consider their regrets.
Adam Neumann, the controversial ex-CEO and Founder of WeWork, recently reflected on what he believes were his biggest regrets at the New York Times DealBook Summit. As reported by CNN, he said: "I've had a lot of time to think, and there've been multiple lessons and multiple regrets." One of these was around not listening enough.
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Neumann recalled that he was offered an in-depth sit-down meeting with Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, in which Cook was willing to share some advice. He said: "In that meeting with one of the biggest CEOs on the planet… I spoke so much, instead of listening. I had the chance to sit in front of a great person like that and learn, and I was busy talking again.”
Another regret involved his shift in mindset following WeWork’s huge valuation. He recalled: “It made me feel that whatever style I was leading at was the correct style at the time… At some point [it went to my head].”
Top 3 qualities of a CEO
The role of the CEO has taken on many additional remits in the last few years. Aside from overseeing the Board and liaising with stakeholders, employees are now putting more importance on their leaders as a public figurehead who maintains the values of the workplace.
Among these new expectations, what are the top qualities that executive leaders should maintain? One key attribute is having a clear vision, according to the chartered accountant's group ICAS. Leaders should have a clear direction of where they want to steer the business, as well as being able to inspire others to buy into your leadership.
Another important leadership tool is inspiring trust, and trusting employees in return, according to ICAS. A trusting CEO can subsequently benefit from a positive working culture.
Finally, according to careers advice website Blue Steps, no leader makes it to the peak of their career without excellent communication skills so it is crucial that their ideas and strategies are clearly communicated with the Board and the workforce.
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Top 3 qualities of a CEO
The role of the CEO has taken on many additional remits in the last few years. Aside from overseeing the Board and liaising with stakeholders, employees are now putting more importance on their leaders as a public figurehead who maintains the values of the workplace.
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Among these new expectations, what are the top qualities that executive leaders should maintain? One key attribute is having a clear vision, according to the chartered accountant's group ICAS. Leaders should have a clear direction of where they want to steer the business, as well as being able to inspire others to buy into your leadership.
Another important leadership tool is inspiring trust, and trusting employees in return, according to ICAS. A trusting CEO can subsequently benefit from a positive working culture.
Finally, careers advice website Blue Steps, no leader makes it to the peak of their career without excellent communication skills so it is crucial that their ideas and strategies are clearly communicated with the Board and the workforce.
The skill Duolingo’s CEO wished he concentrated on earlier in his career
The skill Duolingo’s CEO wished he concentrated on earlier in his career
When becoming a leader, each person will likely have their strengths and areas that they need to hone. Whether this is relative to strategic thinking, understanding data or social skills, there are many areas leaders may consider crucial to concentrate on.
According to Luis von Ahn, Co-Founder and CEO of Duolingo, the top element of his remit that took the most honing was his social skills – an area he said is becoming more critical for leaders. He told the BBC: “As a CEO, one thing that I wish I had concentrated on earlier on in my career was my social skills.
“My job is mainly talking with people. I wish I had understood when I was growing up that this was going to be my job; I didn’t spend any time developing my social skills,” he added. It seems that von Ahn is far from the only leader to endorse social skills as a top priority in the modern business world.
Izabela Lundberg of the Legacy Leaders Institute recently told Forbes that these elements are a ‘must’ for those who wish to remain relevant in years to come. She told the publication: “To deal effectively with current complexities on a personal and professional level, every business leader needs to exhibit positive emotional responses.”
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How could tech solve the problems of hybrid working?
Many businesses have embraced a move to hybrid working and the benefits that it can bring in terms of cutting costs and offering staff a better work-life balance. However, with such huge changes to working routines, a myriad of issues have also been thrown into the mix including increasing workloads, varying internet qualities and IT security challenges.
Yet, after almost two years, the tech firms that have been heavily relied on are seemingly ready to announce that they have caught up. In fact, The Washington Post said: “Microsoft, Zoom, Google, Webex, BlueJeans and LogMeIn — say they’re listening and responding.”
The outlet went onto explain: “They’re working on minimising background noise, allowing people to blur or change their backgrounds, get in and out of back-to-back meetings with one click, and better focus on individual faces and voices when workers are huddled in the same room together.”
In addition to this, Tech Republic reported on the solutions also being provided by Google. In fact, they reported that Google Workspace’s companion mode “takes hybrid settings into account, with some people together in a conference room and some people dialling in remotely”.
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How could tech solve the problems of hybrid working?
Many businesses have embraced a move to hybrid working and the benefits that it can bring in terms of cutting costs and offering staff a better work-life balance. However, with such huge changes to working routines, a myriad of issues have also been thrown into the mix including increasing workloads, varying internet qualities and IT security challenges.
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Yet, after almost two years, the tech firms that have been heavily relied on are seemingly ready to announce that they have caught up. In fact, The Washington Post said: “Microsoft, Zoom, Google, Webex, BlueJeans and LogMeIn — say they’re listening and responding.”
The outlet went onto explain: “They’re working on minimising background noise, allowing people to blur or change their backgrounds, get in and out of back-to-back meetings with one click, and better focus on individual faces and voices when workers are huddled in the same room together.”
In addition to this, Tech Republic reported on the solutions also being provided by Google. In fact, they reported that Google Workspace’s companion mode “takes hybrid settings into account, with some people together in a conference room and some people dialling in remotely”.
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