Recently I was talking with a CEO who lamented, “Everyone is trying to solve my $300 million problem, but nobody is helping me solve the $2 billion problem.” He went on to explain that no one is looking at the entirety of his people spend or for ways to help him transform across the board, even now at year-end, when budgets are being closely scrutinized in preparation for the year ahead. This is the area where he needs much greater visibility, he explained, along with a strong strategy.
This isn’t the first time I’ve had a leader share this frustration. I see and hear stories like this every day as I talk with peers, meet with clients, and look across the market. The reality is, as leaders, we’re up against the wall with new ways of doing business but the same, if not greater, pressures to deliver to the bottom line and shareholder value.
