Each year, there is no shortage of nuggets of wisdom imparted by inspiring and influential leaders.
For all its ups and downs, 2022 is no different. Here are some of the best success tips shared by CEOs this year.
Tim Cook, CEO of Apple
For the man tasked with providing steady business tips and leadership advice, some of Cook’s best advice in 2022 ultimately came from the commencement speech he delivered at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, where all students are deaf or hard of hearing. .
In his speech, which was translated into American Sign Language, Cook encouraged the graduating students to adopt a decision-making tactic: Follow your moral compass above all else.
This tactic, Cook said, would lead to his greatest professional and personal success, adding to the “sense of meaning” that drew him to Apple in 1988.
“I know in my heart: Staying true to who you are and what you believe in is one of the most important choices you can make. It will help you build better relationships. It will help you find more satisfaction in your work. And with a lot of luck and effort, you will be able to build a more meaningful life.
Cook also shared one of the easiest ways to identify your own moral code, which will help you develop “a deep understanding of who you are and what you believe in.” Imagine the uncertainty, and imagine how you would respond in a perfect world.
“When you imagine your future … the question you should ask is not, ‘What will happen?’ but ‘Who will I be then?’ I hope you will be kind and compassionate… I hope you will see that there is magic in being a part of something bigger than yourself. And magic can be found in the service of others.
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America
Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America, knows the importance of giving back. While leading America’s largest hunger-relief organization, Babineaux-Fontenot is constantly seeking career advice focused on building a fulfilling life and career.
Back in March, Babineaux-Fontenot spoke with CNBC Make It about the best career advice she’s ever received — and it wasn’t shared with her directly.
Instead, it comes from a 1970s essay: “The Servant as a Leader” by Robert K. Greenleaf, a former AT&T executive. In it, Greenleaf outlines a leadership model that prioritizes serving others.
Babineaux-Fontenot major epiphany?
“Always consider the good intentions of your colleagues, if people want to cooperate in doing good.”
There is research to back up his takeaway. Presuming good intentions in others may be in line with reality: Research from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania found that people don’t assume that others are good — and that it can have a significant impact on their success in the workplace.
Babineaux-Fontenot, for her part, said assuming the best in others has been no less than “transformative” in her own life and career.
“Now, I’m trying to understand until I can understand how people can connect, then help create an environment where, but they determine to win, we can win together – and we all have to work together.”
Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines
During the pandemic, air travel has become a challenge in the age of Covid – from flight cancellations to staff shortages to increased aggression from customers.
So, Delta CEO Ed Bastian will have a unique perspective on effective leadership in times of disruption, upheaval and uncertainty.
In early 2022, Bastian sat down with Harvard Business Review editor-in-chief Adi Ignatius to talk about leadership in times of crisis, where he emphasized the importance of staying close to your team during difficult times.
It’s easy when times are tough to feel embarrassed when you don’t have the answers to the questions you need. It’s never more important to show up and let people know what you know and what you don’t.
Beth Ford, CEO of Land O’Lakes
Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford is no stranger to success.
After leadership positions everywhere from PepsiCo to Scholastic, Ford’s rise up the corporate ladder at Land O’Lakes has been marked by a milestone: Ford is the first female CEO of Land O’Lakes in its more than 100-year history, as well as the first to be openly so. gay women become Fortune 500 CEOs.
But for all the accolades, Ford told CNBC Make It the best career advice he ever received came from a conversation with his mother when Ford was 11 years old.
Ford “threw a tantrum” about an issue he thought his mother knew about. However, as the middle child of seven siblings, Ford’s worries were gone.
“So my mother turned to me and said, ‘If you want something, you have to ask for it; I’m not a mind reader… and I remember that moment clearly.
For Ford, the moment emphasized the importance of supporting your needs, which is still considered an important skill when building a career.
“Many of us think, ‘No one will see the good work I’ve done,’ or we’re afraid to ask for help. However, if you ask others for help, or ask for what you want, people will reach out and give it to you .
