TIKTOK: THERE’S TROUBLE AT THE TOP
One of the great success stories of the pandemic has been the rise and rise of TikTok, so it comes as a great shock to learn that Zhang Yiming, its founder and CEO has just fired himself.
Why?
Whilst the Co-founder has had an instrumental role in TikTok’s creation and unimitated success (his own personal wealth as a result of the company’s success is estimated by Forbes to be over £31billion in 2021), the biggest shock in his retirement from the role of CEO doesn’t stem from his desire to step down, but the reason behind the move.
Yiming confirmed in a candid open memo to staff, which was seen by The Guardian, that the key reason for relinquishing the position of CEO, is because he doesn’t believe he has the skills to truly succeed as a leader.
“The truth is, I lack some of the skills that make an ideal manager. I’m more interested in analysing organisational and market principles... than actually managing people.”
”I’m not very social, preferring solitary activities like being online, reading, listening to music, and daydreaming about what may be possible.”
— Zhang Yiming
So, what skills SHOULD our top leaders have?
Self-awareness
The need for self-awareness, self-control and social awareness are not exclusive to crisis management but the need to practice them well, in a controlled way, in a fast paced and demanding situation are.
Also, admitting what you don’t know as a C suite leader is vital, every leader has gaps and it’s important to have external trusted advisors to stand with you, challenge you, call you out if required, plug the gaps and help you to deliver clarity on the new reality.
But you need to be specific and get a grip on your gaps.
The very best leaders in the world’s best brands now have their external Exec Coaches on speed dial, and are serving as a vital sounding board to help them determine which levers to push and pull in developing their own impact.
Increase self-awareness and become a fit for future leader with our Exec and CEO coaching programmes.
Communication
Recent data from Smarp shows that 91% of employees don’t believe their leaders comms skills are good enough! Its the number one requested ability that employees believe leaders need is good communication skills. It seems pretty obvious, yet the ability to communicate openly, honestly and with vulnerability, whilst ascertaining what information people need is essential, but all too often lacking.
Feedback
Our studies at Lightbulb show that CEO’s believe that improving their organisational and personal feedback capability would improve performance by up to 80%. We MUST encourage the same free flowing feedback with our colleagues and we do from our consumers.
Become an open organisation with our award winning FeedbackFirst ™ method and supporting employer brand.
Clarity
Fundamentally every CEO is seeking clarity: from government, from investors and from lenders. And so are your people. What and where can your CEO give them some temporary clarity over? What could be their rallying call to give people peace, calm and stability in this unstable landscape? Find some aspect, however small of actual or emerging stability and find a way to mobilise your people behind it now.
C Suite and Top Team Development
Want to produce fit for future Top Teams and C Suites?
HERE'S HOW
Want to talk some more?
Reach out to us to schedule a discovery call at info@lightbulbleaders.com.
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