Inc Magazine just published the highlights of a new study from IBM on the most important attributes of CEOs in the future. The two most important ones were creativity and integrity. I’ve written previously about both attributes as important qualities for marketing leaders.
The study also highlighted the most important business dimension to focus on: getting closer to the customer. So if marketers excel at creating and communicating value to customers with creativity and integrity, who will be better prepared to lead companies in the future than marketers? In my opinion the era of company performance being attributed to financial cost-cutters is behind us. Those who can lead by creating value for customers will be in high demand at companies around the globe.
From your perspective, what else do marketing leaders need to do to rise to the top spot?
John Ellett is CEO of nFusion Group, LLC, a digitally-focused marketing agency based in Austin, TX. He has a passion for encouraging and supporting marketing leaders who have the courage to be change agents in their organizations.
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I think the gift of vision — the ability to look beyond the horizon — is essential for most CEOs.
John, so true. And so difficult to do with the daily pressures of running a company. I like your statement that vision is a gift. It would nice to be able to buy it, but vision doesn’t work that way.