U.S. CEOs have built strong foundations for their companies to emerge from the pandemic stronger than before. To make sure that their efforts and hard work continue to have an impact, CEOs will need to stay personally focused on technology, workforce and culture.
Technology
The pandemic-triggered move to digitization has accelerated, putting many companies
years ahead of where they expected to be earlier this year. The key moving forward will be
to make sure that the benefits of these accelerations remain permanent. This will require
understanding the end goals of digital transformation, effective change management and a
disciplined approach to project implementation.
Workforce
COVID-19 has put an enormous stress on the workforce. Under these difficult conditions,
companies need to care for and nurture talent by developing policies that support their
people, such as flexible work arrangements, and by supplying technology solutions that
allow employees to connect with one another. As we move forward, employees are
increasingly going to expect to know what’s happening at their firms and be in regular
communication with their CEO.
Culture and purpose
Despite the anxiety and stressful conditions confronting organizations, CEOs need to
ensure that during this difficult time they stick to their organizations’ values and purpose.
How honorably companies navigate their business through this pandemic will be etched
into the minds of their employees, clients, communities and shareholders. The culture CEOs
build now will determine the strength of their brand in the future.