Creativity Is key To CEOs

According to an IBM survey of 1,541 chief executives from 60 countries and 33 industries globally, chief executive officers (CEOs) identified 'creativity' as the most important leadership quality.

In IBM's 2010 Global CEO Study, the multinational corporation uncovered that CEOs are signalling a new direction. More than sustainability, operational effectiveness, or even dedication, creative leadership is an essential asset to permeate an enterprise.

With the economic downturn and flurry of global challenges, Grace Chopard, vice president and partner for strategy and transformation of IBM global business, growth markets, acknowledged that creativity is the number one leadership competency--in a media briefing yesterday at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

Against the milieu of complexity, volatility and uncertainty, chief executives around the world have also prioritised customer relationships and operational dexterity to successfully navigate enterprises.

Capitalising on complexity

Businesses face a multitude of challenges in the new economic environment, and CEOs recognise the complexity of the challenges they face.

The IBM study revealed that 'complexity' is the top issue confronting global and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) CEOs correspondingly. Eight in 10 CEOs expect their environment to grow significantly more complex but only 49 per cent believe their organisations are equipped to deal with it successfully.

"The biggest challenge facing enterprises from here on will be accelerating complexity and velocity of a world that is operating as a massively inter-connected system," said Chopard. CEOs are confronted with substantial global shifts--new government regulations, changes in global economic power centres, accelerated industry transformation, growing volumes of data and rapidly evolving customer preferences.

However, confronted with the challenge, CEOs are imbued with the conviction that complexity poses as an opportunity for innovation and a catalyst for growth.

Global and ASEAN CEOs believe complexity can be overcome by embracing the qualities of creativity, customer intimacy and dexterity.

In response to the pressures, CEOs are embedding creative leadership qualities into core business and building creative enterprises.

Making the customer the epicentre of the organisation is also a top priority. The study revealed that the strategic focus is on "getting closer to their customers" and "people skills".

CEOs have also seized upon greater operational dexterity as a crucial factor in generating new sources of growth and the path forward to successful enterprises.

Thanks to Anushkar Mohinani / ComputerWorld / News.IDG.no