Planning the future of workplaces has HR pros and bigwigs scratching their heads, and a study by GE and Ipsos has unearthed a major hitch. Turns out, senior execs and fresh faces in the office aren’t seeing eye to eye on how leadership is flaunted in companies. GE and Ipsos did the snooping, and the scoop is this: nearly 90% of the big shots in suits feel like their leadership style oozes through the company, but fewer than 60% of the newbies nod in agreement. That’s a pretty hefty gap in perception. And here’s the kicker: not everyone’s on the same page about nurturing leadership skills. Only 68% of the newcomers think their companies have their back when it comes to moulding strong leaders, while a solid 90% of the execs pat themselves on the back for that.
Linda Boff from GE Foundation chimes in, saying the newbies dig a clear vision and straight-from-the-heart talks from the top brass. That’s the leadership mindset they’re all buzzing about. It’s all about building up qualities like quality work, trust, integrity, and innovation, say both the suits and the fresh recruits. Laura Cococcia, the HR whiz at GE, spills the beans. She’s all about being intentional with this leadership mindset jazz. Cococcia nods at a survey from 2022, saying coaching is the secret sauce for newbie leaders in handling the new normal of hybrid work. And hey, it’s not just about work; it’s about well-being and giving women leaders a boost.
Surprisingly, a lot of the fresh faces do their homework about a company’s leadership before they sign on the dotted line. That’s some early engagement that leaders can tap into to promote their brand and values, Cococcia adds. It’s all about taking those calculated risks and making moves backed by data.
But let’s give credit where it’s due. The chaos of the past few years pushed leaders into the deep end, testing their adaptability and empathy. According to Cococcia, this shift brought about a thirst for leadership training among newbies.
