I see a PR firm has done a survey on the amount of time Canadian CEOs spend on communication, and found they spend almost half of their time on communication.
I think we're supposed to be impressed that CEOs spend that much time on communication. But, quite frankly, what else does a CEO do? And, if you consider both direct and indirect communication, wouldn't that be more like 90%?
So, what do CEOs do, and how much of that involves communication of one kind or another?
Well, they make decisions. But before they make them, good CEOs get information from specialists in their organization. They also may check other options by reading newspapers and magazines, attending conferences, and talking to their peers. All of which involve communication.
For example, let's say a CEO must decide whether or not to launch an important new product line. Before she makes that decision, our CEO will have had discussions with, and reports from, senior members of the sales department. She will also consider the country's economic outlook in the coming months and years, talk to others about what competitors might do, and review the financial implications with the VP of corporate finance.
It's all about gathering, distilling, and transmitting information: what we call communication.
Turning to another CEO function, what about envisioning a new future for the organization and developing a strategy based on it? Again, communication can't be taken out of the mix.
After all, you can't just pick a vision out of the air. It's the outcome of reflective thinking combined with information, knowledge, and insight. All of which come from communicating.
And, there's often a kaleidescope effect before a vision emerges. All sorts of information tumbles around in the mind, over and over, like clothes in a dryer, until eventually a new and promising pattern reveals itself.
For example, suppose the Vice President of Human Resources has just been promoted to Chief Executive Officer, and the board made it clear it expects him to put his own, unique stamp on the company.
He might retire to his office and spend a lot of time inside trying to think of a new direction. But, it's far more likely he'll reach out, rather than withdraw. He'll talk to staff on the front lines as well as managers. He'll read everything relevant he can find in books and magazines.
As that information pours into his mind -- as the communication process enriches his imagination and knowledge -- he'll start to envision possibilities. Some will be more promising than others, and he'll talk about them with others in the organization. Eventually, some sort of consensus will likely emerge about the most promising vision.
Those are just a couple of examples from the work of CEOs, but you can see why I'm skeptical about the 50% figure: There's not much about a CEO's job that does not involve communication of some kind.
In summary, CEOs may do more than communicate, but almost everything they do will be driven or influenced by communication processes inside and outside the organization.
Robert F. Abbott writes and publishes Abbott's Communication Letter. Learn how you can use communication to help achieve your goals, by reading articles or subscribing to this ad-supported newsletter. An excellent resource for leaders and managers, at: http://www.communication-newsletter.com
Building a 'bridge of understanding' between parties is... Read More
The Old Way ? Command and ControlAlthough workplaces and management... Read More
STEPS IN USING THE CRITICAL INCIDENT TECHNIQUE:1) The incident. Read,... Read More
Insightful leaders and organizations recognize that training is a valuable... Read More
This article relates to the Senior /Top Level Management competency,... Read More
In these days of takeovers and mergers, of downsizings and... Read More
Often, collaborating documents in a team or in a business... Read More
Outsourcing is when you hire outside professionals or services to... Read More
Human Resource Employee Risk ProfileIs your business at risk? Do... Read More
Assignment of Claims Act of 1986"....What does this mean for... Read More
Kicking Winning Business Goals The competition for business... Read More
AbstractThe electrical products industry is one characterized by fierce competition,... Read More
Do this simple excercise, and transform your life.First, Make a... Read More
It seems incongruous that good idea generation can be a... Read More
Whether you run your own business or manage a team,... Read More
So, you survived the downsizing. Your company did something that... Read More
Why are people changing jobs so quickly these days?Here are... Read More
Getting into the detail of everything each of your people... Read More
Your people are invaluable to you. They are the lifeblood... Read More
Why do some new managers succeed while others fail? It... Read More
These factors where determined by interviews with and books from... Read More
SWOT analysis is needed for all business to understand how... Read More
Tips for Getting the Most From Your Conference Investment All... Read More
Here's a scary statistic. According to four prominent research firms,... Read More
US Work Ethic Issues and Lack of serviceWell many... Read More
"His cardinal mistake is that he isolates himself, and allows... Read More
One of the key skills for the leaders of growing... Read More
We go to meetings to share information, to report on... Read More
THE CHANGING BOSS-SECRETARY RELATIONSHIP: Imagine a partnership at work. One... Read More
Here are some quick thoughts on ways to turn things... Read More
Measure the right things. It's not enough just to measure-you... Read More
It's been a pretty good weekend around the place -... Read More
Adults are vulnerable to personal and professional embarrassment from poor... Read More
Employees are the often-neglected stakeholders in the success or failure... Read More
There's a common phrase used by Organizational Development and Human... Read More
The industrial age is over. Organizations still stuck in the... Read More
A framework is a way of thinking, a point-of-view, a... Read More
Let me tell you a secret.Things don't always go the... Read More
"The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss... Read More
Statistics consistently reinforce that the biggest challenge in today's contact... Read More
A recent Washington Post article, described the life of temporary... Read More
Nobody's perfect, including the boss. Managers, we polled recently, acknowledged... Read More
The time will come when you'll need to interview someone... Read More
TO: All Parents [and Employers and Managers]From: Your Child and/or... Read More
Do you struggle with a "problem" employee? If so, join... Read More
When the stock market crashed in 1929, there were a... Read More
It can be concluded with great certainty that certain organizational... Read More
Nearly all leaders I've encountered are underachievers. They're getting a... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
You're so excited you're practically bouncing off the walls. This... Read More
Leaders and Managers often ask us, 'What do you do... Read More
Eventually, your business is going to need to have some... Read More
The problem with communication is the illusion that it has... Read More
How do you, or would you, communicate with employees who... Read More
Did you know that an airplane in flight is off... Read More
Left alone it doesn't take long for a building with... Read More
One of the greatest obstacles to progress can often be... Read More
Howard Dean's tenure as chairman of the Democratic National Committee... Read More
Plan/prepare - lack of purpose causes aimless meetings. Know why... Read More
Take some bold steps and help your employees and business... Read More
Do this simple excercise, and transform your life.First, Make a... Read More
In running any kind of business, it's inevitable that sometimes... Read More
It has been said, there is no better way to... Read More
The great majority of family businesses in North America are... Read More
Kicking Winning Business Goals The competition for business... Read More
Australians are loosing their laidback, carefree reputation, as we continue... Read More
Business Management |