The Power of Visible Leadership: Why CEOs Need to Step into the Spotlight

In today's digital age, the role of a CEO has evolved far beyond the boardroom. Why is this shift towards online visibility and storytelling so crucial, and what does it mean for modern leaders?

The Changing Face of Leadership

Gone are the days when CEOs could hide behind corporate curtains, emerging only for annual reports and crisis management. In our hyper-connected world, visibility and storytelling have become essential leadership skills.

As Roger pointed out in a recent podcast episode, "When you talk about legacy and impact, why wouldn't you want to harness that capability?" Digital platforms offer CEOs a rare opportunity to share their voice, inspire their teams, and shape their company's narrative.

The Benefits of Visible Leadership

1. Building Trust In an era of fake news and corporate scandals, people crave authentic leadership. A visible CEO builds trust both internally and externally.

2. Employee Connection Your team wants to know there's a real human steering the ship. As one CEO guest on Roger's podcast shared, "It's about showing up as me and taking the wall away. I wasn't just talking about business, I was talking about anything and everything."

3. Talent Attraction Top talent is drawn to inspiring leaders. In fact, Roger often cites that "candidates are four times more likely to want to work for leaders who use social media than those who don't."

4. Brand Personification A visible CEO becomes the face of your brand, giving it personality and relatability. As Helen Graney, Group CEO at Jack Morton & Weber Shandwick, mentioned on the podcast, "CEO sociability is at an all-time high... people want to know what you care about."

5. Effective Crisis Management When a crisis hits, a CEO with an established presence can navigate it more effectively. Their voice is already familiar and trusted.

Becoming a Storyteller

But visibility alone isn't enough. CEOs need to become inspiring storytellers. This means:

• Sharing company milestones and the stories behind them • Discussing industry trends and your company's role in shaping them • Opening up about personal leadership challenges and learnings • Celebrating team achievements and individual success stories • Engaging with employees, customers, and industry peers on social platforms

As Kim Krogh Andersen, CEO of Telstra International, shared on the podcast, "This is just a platform where you can access people... that's the community you're part of, that's the customer base, that's the ecosystem you're part of, that's also your own employees in a very different way and in a less corporate way."

The Impact of Visible Leadership

The results of this approach can be transformative. Roger has seen companies experience significant boosts in employee engagement, application rates, and overall brand perception after their CEOs became more active on platforms like LinkedIn.

Remember, your CEO doesn't need to become an influencer overnight. It's about consistent, authentic communication that gives a glimpse into your company's vision and values.

As Roger often says, "Clarity drives confidence. Confidence drives authenticity. Authenticity drives connection. Connection drives performance."

In today's digital world, CEOs can no longer afford to be hidden figures. By stepping into the spotlight and embracing their role as storytellers, they can inspire their teams, attract top talent, and lead their companies into the future.

Ready to help your CEO become a visible, inspiring leader? Join Roger Christie's upcoming webinar to learn more about harnessing the power of digital platforms for leadership and talent attraction. Sign up below.