CEO Today Magazine December 2018 Edition

21 www.ceotodaymagazine.com Why Showing Up Still Matters in a Digital-First World www.alexandermannsolutions.com certainly make things easier, but you still need to show up, be physically present, and engage with your team as much as possible. Moreover, working together means exactly that – tackling a problem or challenge and solving it together, as a team. One of the best parts of my job is hearing ideas, getting feedback, and working with colleagues to accomplish something bigger than any of us could do alone. What our people accomplish by working together is a great reminder that big change is made up of a lot of individual efforts. That’s why I love spending time not only with other leadership but with people at all levels of the company. Make Yourself (More) Visible I push myself to be accessible by being present in places where people might not necessarily expect a CEO to show up. Like interviewing employees on a tall ship in Sydney Harbor or on the top of a double-decker bus in London. Alternatively, writing personal replies to the employees who fell for our April Fools’ memo (suggesting I might launch into space as part of a marketing campaign). But visibility is important when it comes to bigger issues, too. I have seen a greater consciousness of global and corporate citizenship, rising largely from younger employees. A shared desire to use our innovative thinking and cutting-edge technology to make a genuine impact on the world around us. Employees and stakeholders today expect companies to demonstrate purpose and show their humanity with positive social impact. As CEO of Apple, Tim Cook has publicly addressed issues ranging from digital privacy to immigration, and whether or not you agree with his politics, putting that kind of stake in the ground sends a clear message to constituents about where your company stands. “It’s not enough to be a la ge company that simply comments on today’s hot-button issues,” he said at the 2018 Fortune CEO Initiative conference. “We should only speak when we have certain knowledge to bring to the subject.” This type of presence goes a long way in shaping your culture. Take a Minute to Slow Down Adapting to digital transformationcanbeconfusing and even overwhelming at times, especially when there is no single blueprint to guide us in our attempts to balance tangible human interactions within an emerging AI-first world. In a culture where we are always thinking 10 steps ahead, sometimes simply taking a moment to pause, breathe, and acknowledge the here-and-now is enough to keep you grounded and connected to those around you. “I push myself to be accessible by being present in places where people might not necessarily expect a CEO to show up. Like interviewing employees on a tall ship in Sydney Harbor or on the top of a double- decker bus in London.”