What Leadership Skill is Ranked #1 By CEO's? The Answer Is: Creativity!
What Leadership Skill is Ranked #1 By CEO's? The Answer Is: Creativity!
In a recent, frequently-referenced paper published by IBM Global Business Services, a collection of over 1,500 CEOs in 60 countries and 33 industries agreed that "creativity" is at this time the most crucial management quality for accomplishment in business.
Not "world focus," not "integrity," not even much heralded "sustainability." But only "creativity."
Steven Tomasco, of IBM Global Services, discovered the consequence stunning, because now we have simply come out of (hopefully) an historic financial downturn the likes of which most of these CEOs have by no means experienced in their adult lives.
By way of precise percentages, 60% of these surveyed ranked "creativity" at the #1 spot. Second was "integrity." (With all due respect to Steven Tomasco,we might suggest this is the extra surprising outcome during this stage of "the end justifies the means" company management.)
In reality, for those lucky enough to have had access to the crystal ball of enterprise success over the previous number of years, in our new "innovation economic system," that "creativity" holds the #1 spot is hardly surprising. In reality, it is expected.
If there is a secret of company success right now, it's the willingness and skill to unfalteringly reinvent one's value proposition, promote ever-increasing value to prospects and recognize that the patron is in control--every time.
Take into account that 88% of CEOs surveyed also ranked "getting nearer to the customer" as the #1 area of focus, followed carefully by "interpersonal skills" (81%) and "insights and intelligence" (76%).
Creativity, personnel expertise, insights/intelligence all of it boils down to a shopper-driven success model.
The dominant businesses in this marketplace perceive this. They work diligently to stay one step ahead of the customer's need. It's not directly related to the skill to react-it's about the need to anticipate. Give your clients what they crave-before they even know they wish it-and you'll rise to the pinnacle of the competitive company food chain. Fail to act, even for a second, and get ready to fall, quickly.
So what does creativity need to do with all of this? Why is it essential to contemplate outside the normal parameters with a purpose to meet client demand?
Even though your clients don't have a clue about what they are going to want tomorrow-regardless that they want it now. And they don't seem to be going to inform you; that's unnecessary work. They need you to tell them; and once they see it, they'll know it. Tell them what they want, and if you are right on, you win the brass ring. And if you don't, someone else most definitely will.
There's a little bit of alchemy related to this, the capability to ask, "What if?"
"What if my clients had ? How could it make their lives better quality, more satisfying, extra productive?"
This enterprise paradigm isn't for the faint of heart. It is not built upon market data (backwards targeted), confirmed successes (backwards focused) or established business practices (backwards focused). It's built upon foresightand the power to manifest it.
Apple understands. So does Google. Microsoft did once. So did AOL and iomega and so many others who have tripped, stumbled and gone plummeting off the front pages of the business press. Enterprise success means redefining oneself every day. These surveyed company leaders know this, even if they aren't actually doing it. Those who will in the end act upon it will certainly be around to reply to the subsequent IBM survey. Those that don't???
What if? That is the urgent question. Would you be able to present the correct reply?
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