CEOs: Be Neither Coercive Nor Pacesetting

Jan. 13, 2005
By John S. McClenahen To admirers, they're often described as brilliant. To detractors, they're sometimes described in far less charitable terms. But to Debra Nunes, a senior vice president at the Hay Group, Philadelphia, CEOs who expect employees to ...
ByJohn S. McClenahen To admirers, they're often described as brilliant. To detractors, they're sometimes described in far less charitable terms. But to Debra Nunes, a senior vice president at the Hay Group, Philadelphia, CEOs who expect employees to comply without question and those who personally model performance standards are largely ineffective team leaders. Coercive or pacesetting behavior, ironically something that may have helped CEOs achieve the top spot, alienates other top management team members and retards needed collaboration, she indicates. "In a sense, their mythologies precede them, and their strong, forceful presences simply suck the air out of the room, creating an environment of worship rather than teamwork," says Nunes. "The challenge for these types of leaders, and others, is to turn off some of the skills and behaviors that have served them so well on their rise to the top, and turn on the listening and social skills that are not always reinforced in a hierarchical corporate culture," she says. She cautions, however, that CEOs should not forego strong leadership. Indeed, a recent Hay study shows that the most effective team leaders are both authoritative and democratic: They give strong direction while making team members believe their voices will be heard and what they say matters.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

The New Employee Experience Strategy for the Everywhere Workplace

June 14, 2023
HR and Comms leaders are challenged with managing a distributed workforce. Read this ebook for best practices for rebuilding the employee experience and staying connected and ...

3D Printing a More Efficient Factory Floor

Nov. 16, 2023
Today’s additive manufacturing platforms make it simple to print a wide range of high-performing industrial parts as soon as possible and right where you need them — unlocking...

How to Have Productive Employee Experiences for Your Employees

May 31, 2023
If you want to gain the competitive edge, the most important investment you could ever make is in your employee experience. In this handbook, you’ll see how you can unlock the...

Discrete and Process Manufacturing 2024 Trends and Outlook for North America

Oct. 29, 2023
Manufacturers are reaping the benefits of automation and cloud-based solutions. Discover what is driving today's industry trends and how they can shape your growth priorities ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!