Swiss Army CEOs….Imposters Anonymous…Productive Heretics…..Econ Recon: It’s Different This Time

“What we wish, we readily believe.

What we ourselves think, we imagine others think also.”

Julius Caesar
Consul of Rome
100 BC- 44 BC

Swiss Army CEOs

Someone once said that a good CEO is like a Swiss Army Knife: a multitude of useful competencies in one package. But which ones really matter? How about some hard data from people who get paid to find the real thing? A Harvard Business Review blog summarizes a survey of senior recruiters who were asked what their clients prized most in the C-level executives they were recruiting. Their answers are in this article Here are the seven skills you need to thrive in the C Suite. Check out the list and ask yourself: “Would you hire you today for the top job in your company? “

 Imposters Anonymous

 Are you who you appear to be? Many CEOs have this doubt primarily about themselves. There’s a name for this: The Imposter Syndrome, and it’s common among leaders. Are you Afraid of Being Found Out? Learn how to overcome the imposter syndrome in this one page article from Forbes.

Productive Heretics

Here’s some counterintuitive advice for being more productive that may be hard to swallow. David Brendel, MD, (Vistage Chair and Psychiatrist) thinks that highly productive high level execs need to reject the conventional wisdom about work. Check out his musings in one page blog entry The Heretic’s Guide to Getting More Done

Econ Recon: It’s Different This Time

Historically, when the economy as measured by GDP climbs back to pre-recession levels, employment levels likewise recover. That hasn’t been the case in the recovery that is now in its fifth year. The labor force participation rate is actually lower than it was before. Many say that structural changes, like automation, are offsetting the usual cyclical recovery that accompanies the upswing of the business cycle. But there are other factors, too. For a CEO level summary as to why it’s different this time, check out this short New York Times article Automation Alone isn’t Killing Jobs.

This is an important phenomenon for C-Level executives to understand, not only in regard to their companies but also for the young people in their lives who are just starting their careers.  If you want a deeper dive on this important topic, check out an excellent article in the weekend Wall Street Journal.  Penned by Glen Hubbard, former Chairman of George Bush’s Council of Economic Advisors, it takes a hard look at this conundrum and asks  Where Have All The Workers Gone?