Those are among the conclusions of a new CEO Reputation Survey by public relations firm Weber Shandwick, whose respondents included 1,700 senior executives across 19 countries.
What are the elements of a solid reputation that can elevate a CEO or company owner and, thus, his company? The executives surveyed offered up this list of 8 characteristics that help determine the difference between a “highly regarded CEO” and a “poorly regarded” one.
The executives surveyed attributed nearly half (45%) of their company’s reputation to the reputation of their CEO, and half of them predicted that CEO reputation will matter more to company reputation in the next few years.
In fact, “company leader reputation” placed fourth among the factors that “influence a great deal” a company’s overall reputation, with 49% of those executives surveyed citing it. The No. 1-cited factor was “quality of products and services” with 66%, followed by “financial performance” 57%, and the company’s industry’s reputation 50%. “Marketing and communications efforts” also were cited by 49%.
Less-important factors included “company reputation for innovation” 48%, “what news media says about company” 45%, “what employees think and say about the company” 42%, and “what is said about the company in social media” 32%.
Also, CEO reputation is very consequential for the bottom line Executives estimated that 44% of their company’s market value is attributed to the reputation of their CEOs. “This extraordinary interdependence between CEO reputation and market value demonstrates that leadership is a resource worth investigating in and cultivating,” Weber Shandwick said.
“Business leaders are at a pivotal point,” the report further concluded. “They are emerging from a period in which CEOs kept fairly low profiles, raised to the public spotlight only by crisis or scandal. While they were keeping quiet, the media landscape exploded around them, effectively crowding out carefully crafted message points and spawning increasingly distracted audiences only interested in 140 characters at a time.”
Fortunately, the report advised, “CEOs have entered a golden age of opportunity in which to tell their company stories. They are far less dependent on traditional media to profile their biographies and echo their future strategies. CEOs can now take their storytelling content directly to stakeholders without negotiating with the media,” through content marketing and social media.
Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
