Gavin in Va Beach Posted July 22, 2005 Posted July 22, 2005 Your company's CEO might be a pretender, and that may be a good thing, according to Robert Sutton, professor of management science and engineering at Stanford University. Sutton, the author of a 2001 study of corporate innovation, "Weird Ideas that Work," says that a close look at the evidence shows that CEOs probably deserve less credit for their company's fortunes than they receive and that the best of them manage a tough balancing act: secretly aware of their own fallibility while also realizing that any sign of indecisiveness could be fatal to their careers. "In just about every study I've ever seen ... the amount of control a leader has over the company is exaggerated," Sutton said during a keynote address at the AO05 Innovation Summit at Stanford yesterday. Although top executives of the largest companies are often considered uniquely powerful, their effectiveness actually dwindles as companies get larger, he said. "If you look at these Fortune 500 companies where they get paid a fortune, they have the least impact," Sutton said. The notion of the CEO as a captain, steering the corporate ship, isn't so much a fallacy as it is a "half truth," according to Sutton, who has devoted a chapter to the topic in his upcoming book, Hard Facts, Dangerous Half Truths, and Total Nonsense. In fact, leaders -- even great ones -- often have no clear idea where they are going, he said. And they make mistakes. The best executives, like Intel Corp.’s former CEO Andy Grove, will admit that they face a dilemma in needing to appear decisive while at the same time being conscious of their limitations. "You have to pretend," Sutton said. "It's sort of a dilemma, but if you want to accept a leadership job, you've got to accept the hypocrisy of it." CEOs are faking it, Stanford professor says - The bigger the company, the less impact they often have Since the 1980's CEO compensation has risen something like 500%...I'm sure glad that in our era of layoffs and outsourcing we can all rest at night knowing the CEO's of the world are hard at work earning their salaries and stock options...
RkFast Posted July 22, 2005 Posted July 22, 2005 Good for them. Wish I could make millions and do nothing.
Lemur King Posted July 22, 2005 Posted July 22, 2005 Yay class warfare. "era of layoffs and outsourcing" Unemployment in this country is extremely low. Regarding outsourcing, do you have a problem with Japan outsourcing to the US? Toyota alone employs 250,000 Americans.
Ghost of BiB Posted July 22, 2005 Posted July 22, 2005 Good for them. Wish I could make millions and do nothing. 388275[/snapback] That dressing well and going to lunch is some really tough stuff. Cut them some slack.
blzrul Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 I know a CEO of a large company whose name many of you would recognize. He was incompetent when I worked with him, he left and didn't last long at his two next companies as a VP. He landed at this company and has been there since because he's a pretty boy cheerleader and is just what they needed to soften their unfriendly image. I KNOW he's not running that company. How? It's still in business.
erynthered Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 I know a CEO of a large company whose name many of you would recognize. He was very competent when I worked with him, he left and didn't last long at his two next companies as a VP. He landed at this company and has been there since because he's a cheerleader and is just what they needed to help their friendly image. I KNOW he's running that company the best way he can. It's still in business. 388570[/snapback] This is the best post you've ever had, nice job.
Ghost of BiB Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 I know a CEO of a large company whose name many of you would recognize. He was incompetent when I worked with him, he left and didn't last long at his two next companies as a VP. He landed at this company and has been there since because he's a pretty boy cheerleader and is just what they needed to soften their unfriendly image. I KNOW he's not running that company. How? It's still in business. 388570[/snapback] Well DUH, Deb. Is this some big fugging insight?
ExiledInIllinois Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 This is the best post you've ever had, nice job. 388581[/snapback] Her best post ever and you couldn't properly cite the quote.
RkFast Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 He landed at this company and has been there since because he's a pretty boy cheerleader and is just what they needed to soften their unfriendly image. Well, Id say that if he's "just what they needed" and his hire accomplished his employer's goals than he's doing his job properly and therefore, earning his pay, right?
blzrul Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 Well DUH, Deb. Is this some big fugging insight? 388596[/snapback] You been hanging out with CTM too much, you're getting that Cliff Claven Complex.
Ghost of BiB Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 You been hanging out with CTM too much, you're getting that Cliff Claven Complex. 388768[/snapback] Nah. Just bored. You're an easy target of opportunity. Have to keep my hand in, at least a little bit. How's Dad doing? When does he get out of London?
erynthered Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 Her best post ever and you couldn't properly cite the quote. 388644[/snapback] Did I have to? Was I suppose to? Sorry Teach, I'm busy..............
Lemur King Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 This is the best post you've ever had, nice job. 388581[/snapback] Yes! A post with anecdotal evidence citing unnamed sources working for unnamed companies. Excellent. Email Matt Drudge immediately. Deb is his kind of source.
erynthered Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 Yes! A post with anecdotal evidence citing unnamed sources working for unnamed companies. Excellent. Email Matt Drudge immediately. Deb is his kind of source. 388817[/snapback] You have know idea how wrong you are. Are you new? Try the four Iron, cause your short yardage wedge sucks. Next.........
Lemur King Posted July 24, 2005 Posted July 24, 2005 You have know idea how wrong you are. Are you new? Try the four Iron, cause your short yardage wedge sucks. Next......... 388877[/snapback] Sorry. Her anecdotal evidence not citing a source for an unnamed article is the kind of thing you rely on? Please skip Drudge. Go directly to Blogs for news.
blzrul Posted July 24, 2005 Posted July 24, 2005 Nah. Just bored. You're an easy target of opportunity. Have to keep my hand in, at least a little bit. How's Dad doing? When does he get out of London? 388781[/snapback] Got home Friday night. Says security is just as easy-going as the last two times he was there. Jay Rosen could probably tell all y'all who I'm talking about. He won't know the guy but his wife will. And my point was since all they needed was a pretty boy, not a business whiz, they could have sourced someone else who looked good for a lot less money. It's not like any particular skill is needed.
Ghost of BiB Posted July 24, 2005 Posted July 24, 2005 Got home Friday night. Says security is just as easy-going as the last two times he was there. Jay Rosen could probably tell all y'all who I'm talking about. He won't know the guy but his wife will. And my point was since all they needed was a pretty boy, not a business whiz, they could have sourced someone else who looked good for a lot less money. It's not like any particular skill is needed. 389015[/snapback] oooooo...name dropper......
blzrul Posted July 24, 2005 Posted July 24, 2005 oooooo...name dropper...... 389046[/snapback] Jay and I used to work at the same company. Somewhere I have a photo of me, Jay, another former co-worker and a couple of Brits visiting from the UK when we all went to Fredonia many moons ago...
Crap Throwing Monkey Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 You been hanging out with CTM too much, you're getting that Cliff Claven Complex. 388768[/snapback] F'you. Every company I've ever worked for has only gotten in trouble when the CEO has decided he should exercise his authority. Who I currently work for is doing very well...and the CEO usually gets 18 holes in every day. I do not think that's a coincidence.
RkFast Posted July 25, 2005 Posted July 25, 2005 F'you. Every company I've ever worked for has only gotten in trouble when the CEO has decided he should exercise his authority. Who I currently work for is doing very well...and the CEO usually gets 18 holes in every day. I do not think that's a coincidence. 389138[/snapback] Agreed. The small agency I used to work for had a CEO who carried a similar schedule, only occasionally weilding power and the place did pretty well. The agency I work for now has an absentee owner, no CEO, and predictably, has its top tier power structure in chaos.
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