www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO INSIGHT ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS A LEADER The first step of establishing yourself as a leader is to decide on your vision for the organisation, which will frame everything that comes after. Drawing on his personal experience of stepping up to CEO at Tax Systems, Bruce Martin shares his advice: “Having made the move from CFO to CEO last year, I can begin to imagine how Charles is feeling in the lead-up to his Coronation – except he’s got the whole world watching! There is no qualification that solidifies you as a capable CEO – or King – so I don’t know if anyone would ever feel totally ready and prepared to step into such a role. But what I have learned over the past year is that it is all about authenticity. You can’t simply slip into the shoes of your predecessor and be someone that you aren’t. It is important to establish your own leadership style as soon as possible and be transparent about it. Set out how you are going to be different and set the tone for how you envisage taking the business – or in Charles’ case, the monarchy – forward.” Agata Nowakowska, AVP EMEA at Skillsoft, adds that establishing a strong vision is key to cementing yourself as a leader. “Successful leaders are able to craft a transformative vision and share it with a sense of passion, helping their team or country understand what they do and why it matters. Mobilising teams to execute the vision and sustain momentum is critical to effectively communicating a unified purpose,” she says. COMMUNICATION Once the vision has been decided, this must be effectively communicated with those it will involve and impact. For business leaders, this is the business’ stakeholders – employees, partners, shareholders, etc. – for Charles, this is the British public. As Hugh Scantlebury, CEO and Founder of Aqilla, states, “Communicating his vision and values clearly and effectively to the public will be key to establishing himself as a strong figurehead.” Addressing the conflicting public opinions around the Coronation, Scantlebury urges King Charles to take the opportunity “to change the public’s perception of him from having an unearned right to rule to being a capable leader.” Reflecting on the generational changes since Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, Tax Systems’ Bruce Martin reminds us that how the public communicates and expects to be communicated with has greatly changed: “In today’s modern times, people are looking for approachability from their leaders. They want to feel listened to, that their voices are heard, and that what they say is being acted upon by those in charge. And, if it is not possible to act on it, then this should be communicated transparently.” He continues, “Charles should also carefully consider the communication style that works best for him with the public of today - the Christmas speech is a British tradition, but with social media now being such an important method of spreading news, the Royal Family could take a huge step forward by utilising such channels - something we have seen them increasingly lean on in more recent years. Being relevant and relatable is crucial when establishing yourself as a leader, rather than a manager, and this will ring true for Charles too as he officially steps into his new role.” 26 www.ceotodaymagazine.com
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