by Shama Kabani of the Marketing Zen Group. Posted here with permission.
I just got back from The Leaders of Tomorrow conference at St. Gallen in Switzerland. It was a fantastic trip, and I gleaned some great nuggets of business wisdom from the world’s best.
One particular session that I really enjoyed was presented by McKinsey partner Dominic Barton. As someone who spends much of his time with the CEOs of the world’s leading companies, he shared 5 insights from his experience.
I wanted to share those with you, as I truly believe they will shape the coming years in a massive way. Here are the top 5 concerns shared by most CEO’s.
1) They struggle with loneliness - The higher you get, the harder it is to find the right sources to trust. Selling to the top suite? Make sure you are working hard to gain their trust and that they see you as a confidante. Consultative selling never looked so good.
2) Lack of time – CEOs continue to balance an overflowing plate and prioritizing becomes key. If you can help them manage their time or SAVE them time, you are poised for growth.
3) Appetite for cross-sector knowledge – My personal favorite. CEOs and companies across the globe are looking at what they can learn from industries other than their own. Cross pollination at its best.What can marketers learn from HR? What can IT learn from sales? If you want to break into a new industry, look at what your past experiences allow you to bring to the table.
4) Understanding transitions - Leaders transition in and out of positions, jobs, and companies. They are consistently looking for help with these transitions. How can you help them?
5) The battle for talent -The biggest competitive advantage of any company in the future is going to be people. Often CEOs don’t know the scope of talent available to them within their own company. This is a source of frustration for many.
Mr. Barton also shared what he believed to be the top three industries poised for growth in the next 10 years: Healthcare, Agriculture, and Education (specifically Polytechnics).
I know these aren’t the usual “online marketing” related tips I share with you, but I couldn’t resist sharing these amazing gems of knowledge with you.
Your #1 Fan,
Shama
Check out Shama’s new book, The Zen of Social Media Marketing! It continues to climb the charts. http://www.ZenofSocialMedia.com.
