Alone at the Top: between the Board of Directors and the Management Team.

CEOs are constantly caught between strategic goals and operational realisation. Their most significant challenge is fulfilling the requirements of the Board of Directors and the management team’s expectations.

There is often a pressure from above and below.

• Supervisory Board: The board expects strategic results, clear visions, and continuous value increase. At the same time, it asks critical questions about compliance, risks, and decisions.
• Management Team: Expects strong decision-making, inspiring leadership and support in realising operational goals.

The ability to combine these different perspectives is critical for a CEO to drive the organisation forward. To be successful, CEOs need more than just technical expertise: they also need excellent leadership skills, strong communication skills (this includes the ability to listen), strategic agility, an understanding of technology, and a solid professional network—both within the company and at external levels.

And very crucial: self-reflection. Often referred to as ‘inside-out leadership,’ this approach encourages leaders to recognise and consciously develop their inner values, beliefs, and behavioural patterns. Self-reflection helps CEOs make clearer decisions, react more resiliently to change, and build authentic relationships.

Those who understand themselves can lead others better.

Storytelling has the remarkable ability to connect people and inspire them to act. So, suppose your organisation needs to undergo a structural, cultural or other significant change. In that case, storytelling helps to communicate why this change is necessary and what the organisation’s future will look like in concrete terms. Storytelling is the basis for convincing communication. You should take the following aspects into account:

• Clear vision: develop an inspiring future vision that motivates employees.
• Authenticity: Be authentic and transparent in your communication.
• Emotional appeal: Use stories to connect with your audience emotionally.
• Consistent messages: Repeat your core messages in different formats and channels.

Through storytelling, you can make complex changes understandable, reduce resistance and promote a positive corporate culture. A well-told story is memorable and creates an emotional connection with your employees and customers.

CEOs of technology companies are particularly challenged when it comes to storytelling. A CEO should not present innovations from the perspective of technical developments but from the user’s point of view. The focus is on translating complex technologies into concise, appealing and understandable stories that demonstrate added value for all target groups.