What It Takes to Be a Successful Leader
Kane Communications Group works with CEOs from a variety of industries across the board - from nonprofits and government to corporations. One thing we’ve observed is that a CEO’s job is as difficult as it is important. The high standards and broad expectations of key stakeholders including boards, shareholders, consumers, and employees often create an environment of relentless scrutiny.
So what attributes are needed to shape the right culture, set the right strategy and pull together the right team? I’ve had the great fortune of working with several influential and successful leaders throughout my career. I reached out to a few to ask them directly what attributes they believe helped them achieve success.
Michael Bernstein
Michael Bernstein is a highly successful CEO who has led multiple healthcare companies (including a few giants) to great success. Mike’s gifts as a strong leader are innumerable. His sense of humor, incredibly diverse vocabulary, and ability to negotiate $60 million engagements in one single meeting blew me away. I asked him what attributes he felt were most responsible for bringing him such amazing success. His responses are likely not what you’d expect.
Joyce Russell
Joyce Russell is the President of the Adecco Group US Foundation and served for 14 years as President of Adecco, the second largest provider of recruitment and staffing services in the United States. She is also the author of a new book, Put a Cherry on Top: Generosity in Life and Leadership. She is an exceptional leader and a wonderful person, who has the gift of making clients and employees feel like they matter. Joyce says there are two primary traits she believes led her (and kept her) at a high level of success in the role of president for decades.
