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CEOs are becoming less powerful, says work expert Adam Grant
CEOs are influential and highly paid, but long hours, high stress, and uncertainty about the future are leading to “CEO burnout” and disinterest in leadership roles among young workers.
CEO is one of the most influential and highly-compensated jobs in the world, but according to organizational psychologist Adam Grant, the overwhelming feeling he senses from business leaders right now is one of “powerlessness.” With so many uncertainties and risks right now—climate change, crumbling democracy, powerful new advances in AI—CEOs are putting their heads down to focus on short-term gains instead of preparing for the long-term futures of their organizations.
On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer asks Grant, who studies leadership and culture in the business world, what he makes of this shift, and whether CEO incentives need to change. Grant sees a growing disinterest among young workers in taking on leadership roles, pointing to long hours, short tenures, and a growing sense that it’s unclear how much good they can do, if any, from the executive c-suite. All this contributes to what Grant calls “CEO burnout,” and he said he hopes to see more companies with co-CEOs, which is better for business and workers.
“I think the job [of CEO] is just so big and complex that it’s hard for one person to have all the skills you need,” Grant explains.
Watch full episode: How AI is changing the world of work
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The Graphic Truth: World not yet fully back to work
It’s been almost three years since the COVID pandemic swung a wrecking ball through our societies, our economies, and our workplaces. But even now, with the most acute phase of the crisis behind us, many aspects of life still aren’t back to what they were in the B.C. (Before Coronavirus) era. One great example is the hours worked in our economies. When the pandemic struck, lockdowns and other restrictions caused the number of hours worked on a quarterly basis around the world to plunge by nearly 20% compared to the final quarter of 2019, the baseline for “last moments of pre-pandemic normalcy.” But since then, the world as a whole still hasn’t gotten back to pre-pandemic levels of hours worked — we’re still almost 1.5% below them. Lower-income countries are struggling more than rich ones to get back to where they were, and there is only one region of the world that shows more hours worked now than before the pandemic — can you guess which one it is?
The Graphic Truth: Can we work only 4 days a week?
This fall Spain plans to launch what will be the world's first national pilot program for a four-day workweek. The idea has gained popularity in recent years to encourage productivity, boost workers' mental health, and fight climate change (less commuting means less pollution). The pandemic, particularly with its stresses on mental well-being, has added urgency to the proposal. That's why other countries — especially those with strong labor protections and short workdays — are paying close attention to the experiment, under which the Spanish government will subsidize part of a company's cost to transition its employees to a four-day workweek. Here's a look at how long workers are generally on the job in other OECD countries (without accounting for paid leave in any of them).
How to Stay Motivated in Outer Space: Work in 60 Seconds
When you're in outer space, how do you stay motivated, when it's so lonely and pretty stressful too?
It's actually all about the mission. It sounds a little stereotypical to say that but the work is so important and there just isn't a do over. I mean, if you mess something up and you have to do it over, often you can do that. But there's just - you could be doing other really useful things. In the case of something like capturing a 16-ton supply ship with the robotic arm, there really isn't a do over and I find it's the mission but it's also kind of just saying, you know, "I have done everything I can to be ready." If you've done your best. No one can ask anything more than that. So you're ready.
Do you apply that to your work life now here on the ground?
I do that, you know, but often I'm like, I will say an example of TED here, I was a little worried about giving a talk and forgetting, or not saying everything I meant to say, and that was all wrapped up in me and then I went to the first night of talks here and I realized that everyone's here because they have something to say and people are here to listen. And that was the important mission, as opposed to me worrying about how I felt about it, and that got me through.
And go deeper on topics like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at Microsoft on The Issues.
US Olympian Allyson Felix on Self-Motivation: Work in 60 Seconds
You can actually motivate yourself better by not talking in the first person.
US Olympian Allyson Felix joins Adam Grant for Work in 60 Seconds!
And go deeper on topics like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at Microsoft on The Issues.
Who Should You Make Fun of At Work: Work in 60 Seconds
Women and men are treated differently when it comes to the humor department at work.
It's Work in 60 Seconds with Adam Grant!
And go deeper on topics like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at Microsoft on The Issues.
Will AI Take Over Your Job: AI in 60 Seconds
Jobs that are repetitive are most at risk of being taken over by artificial intelligence.
It's AI in 60 Seconds with Kai-Fu Lee!
The Cost of Performance Incentives: Work in 60 Seconds
Performance incentives can have a negative affect on mental health.
It's Work in 60 Seconds with Adam Grant.
And go deeper on topics like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence at Microsoft on The Issues