Why CHROs are the new C-Suite power players

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By Lindsey Galloway

 

This is the first in Chief’s new series, The New C-Suite, which examines how rapidly-shifting workplace norms and technologies have impacted today’s top corporate power players — and what it means for executive women.

What do Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, Leena Nair, CEO of Chanel, and Anne Mulcahy, former CEO of Xerox, all have in common? They all once served as HR leaders. Once relegated to the sidelines, HR and People leaders have become a pivotal part of the C-Suite, especially as remote work, ‘quiet’ hiring and firing trends, DEI initiatives, and other talent management functions have taken center stage in the corporate landscape.

According to data firm AON, the failure to attract and retain top talent comes in as the fourth largest risk to organizations today, a huge jump when compared to previous years when it didn’t even rank in the top 10. The need for an executive leader to manage that talent continues to grow, with 473 of the Fortune 500 having a Chief Human Resource Officer, and the role seeing a growth in average salary as well.

The function also continues to be dominated by women. Spencer Stuart research found that 70% of CHRO roles in the Fortune 500 are held by women, trailing only Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer for sheer representation. Since the role interfaces closely with the CEO and every other department, the CHRO offers essential experience on the way to the corner office. Continue reading →

How to Handle a Toxic Boss

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by Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries

 

 

People don’t leave bad jobs they leave bad managers.

Naomi was troubled by recurrent nightmares. Each night, she found herself trapped in a dark parking lot with no exit, hiding from approaching footsteps. As a shadowy figure with a familiar face loomed closer, Naomi tried to run but her feet felt like lead. She’d wake up, drenched in sweat.

Through therapy and coaching, Naomi connected the dots between the subject of her nightmares and her overbearing boss. She realised that the constant anxiety she felt going into work stemmed directly from his demanding behaviour. Ironically, while her boss pushed for increased performance, his methods undermined her confidence and hindered her ability to deliver.

Workplace stress due to bad bosses is more common than most people realize. Dealing with bosses who behave inappropriately, set unrealistic expectations or are unsupportive of work-life balance unsurprisingly leads to negative health outcomes.

Toxic work environments have been linked to high levels of anxiety, depression, poor sleep, high blood pressure and even premature aging. High levels of work stress may result in unhealthy behaviours and habits, and spill over into personal lives, affecting the well-being of partners and children.

Bad bosses exist in all shapes and sizes, spanning from narcissists and bullies to micromanagers. Among them are those with extreme mood swings and unreasonable expectations, as well as those who hoard information, avoid conflict, never give positive feedback or are perpetually unavailable. These traits make them very difficult to work for.

Especially harmful are bosses who have both psychopathic and narcissistic traits. Driven by this “dark dyad”, they are often quite Machiavellian. They tend to exploit those they manage, take credit for their subordinates’ work, be overly critical and generally behave inappropriately. In addition to being a nightmare for individuals, bad bosses can significantly harm the overall work climate. Their demands and behaviours drain employees’ willpower and motivation, contribute to mental fatigue and impair performance.  Continue reading →

Why CHROs are the new C-Suite power players

Posted on

 

 

 

By Lindsey Galloway

 

This is the first in Chief’s new series, The New C-Suite, which examines how rapidly-shifting workplace norms and technologies have impacted today’s top corporate power players — and what it means for executive women.

What do Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, Leena Nair, CEO of Chanel, and Anne Mulcahy, former CEO of Xerox, all have in common? They all once served as HR leaders. Once relegated to the sidelines, HR and People leaders have become a pivotal part of the C-Suite, especially as remote work, ‘quiet’ hiring and firing trends, DEI initiatives, and other talent management functions have taken center stage in the corporate landscape.

According to data firm AON, the failure to attract and retain top talent comes in as the fourth largest risk to organizations today, a huge jump when compared to previous years when it didn’t even rank in the top 10. The need for an executive leader to manage that talent continues to grow, with 473 of the Fortune 500 having a Chief Human Resource Officer, and the role seeing a growth in average salary as well.

The function also continues to be dominated by women. Spencer Stuart research found that 70% of CHRO roles in the Fortune 500 are held by women, trailing only Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer for sheer representation. Since the role interfaces closely with the CEO and every other department, the CHRO offers essential experience on the way to the corner office.

Continue reading →

High-Stakes Leadership: How CEOs Navigate Critical Decisions

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by Simone Olbert, executive coach, and Natalia Karelaia , INSEAD

 

Strategies to help leaders make better, more confident decisions under pressure.

Imagine you are a CEO immersed in deep thought alone in your office. You need to make a high-stakes decision by the end of the week. You are under intense time pressure and feel that there is no single good choice. If you make a mistake, the result could be detrimental, both for the company and its external stakeholders. 

How would you approach such a difficult decision? Would you trust your gut, the data or both? What would be your guiding principles? Who would you involve in the decision-making process? Who do you trust enough to openly share your thoughts and emotions with? How can you gain more clarity about the right choice before it’s too late?

Leaders often find themselves at a critical juncture – be it deciding on major investmentsor the future of the company, handling mergers and acquisitions, responding to critical client issues or navigating organisational changes and crises. These situations demand not only strategic foresight but also the ability to manage stress and conflicting interests under pressure.

Common challenges of decision-making

A recent study we conducted provides insights into how leaders navigate high-stakes decisions. We asked 111 CEOs to share their experiences using both online questionnaires and interviews. The findings shed light on the personal and organisational hurdles that executives face when making difficult choices and highlight effective strategies to cope withdecision-making challenges.

The study participants spanned a diverse professional spectrum, and two-thirds had held a CEO position at least twice. Geographically, they were mainly based in Europe and Asia, with others spread across North America, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and South America. The companies they helmed ranged from small enterprises with annual revenues under €1 million to large conglomerates bringing in over €1 billion. Such diversity provided a rich backdrop for understanding the complex challenges of high-stakes decision-making in different business environments.   

The CEOs highlighted several personal challenges they faced when making crucial decisions. A significant number were concerned about striking the right balance between intuitive judgment and analytical thinking. Psychological pressure and the impact of personal biases also emerged as common issues, with many leaders fearing that their emotions could cloud their judgment.

Underlying organisational challenges were equally daunting. Over 65 percent cited balancing competing stakeholder interests as one of the most complex aspects of decision-making, while over 60 percent said that unpredictable market conditions and a lack of reliable data further complicated the process. Other factors included resistance to change within companies, a misalignment among the members of their decision-making team and difficulties with balancing risk and reward.

Continue reading →

How To Master A Mock Interview In Any Industry

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by Caroline Castrillon

 

Mock interviews, or practice interviews, aren’t just for students. In fact, a mock interview can benefit anyone at any experience level. Why? Because interview processes, tools and etiquette change over time.

A mock interview allows you to have a dress rehearsal where you can focus on building confidence, learning (or honing) interview skills and receiving valuable feedback. Also, it’s an increasingly competitive job market—especially for the technology industry. After mass layoffs, technical interviews are more grueling than ever. So, if you want to be well-prepared and stand out from the crowd, a mock interview is a great way to do it.

A mock interview is a practice session that simulates the interaction you would have with the actual interviewer. It can be conducted virtually or in person with a friend, mentor or former colleague. Preferably, choose an interviewer you trust who has industry-specific knowledge and experience. That way, the feedback you receive will be more objective, insightful and actionable.

The key to a successful practice interview is doing your homework. Here’s a guide to help you prepare so you can increase your chances of landing the ideal role.

Do Your Research
Mock interviews are most helpful if you treat them as seriously as the actual interview. In preparation, research the company to familiarize yourself with its goals, values and mission statement. Learn about the company culture and its competitive differentiators. Helpful information sources include the corporate website, social media sites, press releases and news articles. Use LinkedIn to find current employees who are willing to share information on what it’s like to work there. Remember, job interviews are a two-way street. So, as you conduct research, write down any questions you’d like to ask.

Continue reading →