Over the past 15 years, presenter Robert Reiss has conducted over 1,000 interviews for his program “The CEO Show” with executives from all industries: from the Dunkin brands through all business areas to LinkedIn, the CEOs have shared their experiences and tips. In a CNBC op-ed, Reiss explains which four skills CEOs say offer the best career opportunities.
In all of the interviews, it emerged that “changeable” employees are viewed as particularly successful and efficient and are therefore most likely to be promoted. But what characterizes “convertible” employees?
1. Personal initiative
Reiss recommends always choosing the task that nobody else wants to do. Lori Fouche, who runs insurance companies Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and Prudential Group Insurance, told him that she always chose the most difficult tasks in her career. Such initiative shows that the employee is up to anything.
2. Being able to learn from others
CEOs also consider employees who are constantly adopting new methods and habits to be particularly successful. Reiss quotes “Whole Foods” CEO John Mackey: “I try to take something out of every situation and from every person around me.” Other CEOs have also reported adopting best practices from completely different situations and industries – such as their time in the army – and having had great success with them.
3. Being able to listen
Being able to learn from others also includes the ability to listen. Doug Conant, a senior executive at Campbell Soup, told Reiss that during team meetings in particular, you should listen to the other person – even if they may have just interrupted you. If you are interrupted, this usually means that the topic is particularly important for the other person. In such moments it is worth putting your ego on the back burner and listening.
4. Problem Solving Skills
Among the CEOs, employees with high problem-solving skills were considered particularly suitable for a managerial position. So you should never just go to the boss with a problem and ask how you have to solve it, but rather present a solution directly yourself. Ryder System CEO Robert Sanchez, for example, told Reiss that even before his promotion, he was known to his colleagues and management as a “problem solver” and was therefore offered significantly more career opportunities than his colleagues.
Olga Rogler / Editor finanzen.net
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