CEOS Are Loosening Up

A recent IBM study of more than 1,700 chief executive officers from 64 countries and 18 industries worldwide has some intriguing implications for organizational culture.

Although I’ve spoken with several HR leaders over the last few months about the necessity of transforming the way we work, I’ve always felt this uneasiness that CEOs weren’t on the same page. The IBM study assures me that this is not the case. Leaders clearly see that command and control is outdated and ineffective.

Knowledge Sharing in All Directions

According to the research, companies that outperform their peers are 30 percent more likely to identify openness as a key influence. Using social media mainly, CEOs are encouraging their employees to create new workstreams that tap the collective intelligence of the firm and allow employees to connect with and learn from one another.

For more survey results, some of which are surprising, take a look at my full post on the AMEX Open Forum.