How do CEOs learn? How do they demonstrate their commit-
ment to learning and knowledge sharing in their organization? This
chapter presents a wide range of practices used successfully by
CEOs and top executive leaders to support their learning and to
demonstrate their commitment to learning and knowledge sharing
in the organizations they lead.^1 It also describes some of the chal-
lenges and opportunities inherent to learning at the CEO level. It
provides ideas on how to integrate learning into the fast-paced lives
of top executives and how to support these executives better.
What CEOs Need to Be Effective
Learning and Knowledge LeadersCEOs have considerable resources at their disposal to learn but are
working under constant pressure and competing demands for their
time. Their success depends largely on their ability to learn from
experience and to reflect on these experiences. CEOs also have a
unique vantage point from which to access and connect ideas
quickly. Their learning depends on their ability to filter informa-
tion and knowledge efficiently from within and outside the organi-
zation. Finally, CEOs are literally alone at the top. Their peers are
outside the boundaries of the organization. Their learning depends
on their ability to forge formal and informal networks with people
outside their organization.
Here are some of the most important leadership attributes or
behaviors that support CEOs in their learning and knowledge
management agenda:
- They have a desire to learn.They openly acknowledge the fact
that they are constantly learning. To do so, they integrate learning
into all aspects of their lives (work, family time, social activities,
travel), and they constantly reach out to learn from others. They
adopt the attitude that there is something new to learn in every
situation and from every person.
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