Want to Be CEO? Six Tips from Match Group, Vimeo and Angie’s List Talent Spotter
发布时间:2018年08月27日
发布人:nanyuzi  

Want to Be CEO? Six Tips from Match Group, Vimeo and Angie’s List Talent Spotter

 

Emily Joffrion

 

With over 150 media and tech brands in their portfolio, including Match Group, Vimeo, College Humor and Investopedia, IAC’s talent team knows what it takes to be CEO. And they are excellent talent spotters, as evidenced by their alumni of seasoned leaders like Dara Khosrowshahi, the former-Expedia CEO now heading up Uber, and younger CEOs, like 34-year-old Anjali Sud of Vimeo. Their secret? According to Sharfi Farhana, IAC’s Director of Talent, it’s hiring leaders ­– many of them women ­– from within.

 

Over the past three years, most of the CEOs appointed at IAC businesses have been women, four of them promoted internally. And, compared to a mere 4.8% of female CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies in 2018, 50% of the CEO roles throughout IAC are held by women. I sat down with Sharfi Farhana, who pitched for her job to be created, to learn what she looks for in CEOs. Here are her six tips to get on the CEO shortlist.

 

1. Say It out Loud – You Want to Be CEO

 

If you want to be the CEO (or any leadership position, really) you have to tell people. The simple act of raising your hand might feel modest, but putting your intentions out there is the first step toward self-actualization. You start seeing yourself in your goal, which helps you focus and get clear on what you can do to get yourself there. It also helps people think about you when opportunities (or challenges) come up. “We love it when people raise their hands for the biggest, hairiest problems you can imagine,” says Farhana. “When you’re working on something that nobody else wants to touch because its high risk, that’s when you learn the most.”

 

2. Get Visibility Through Active Feedback

 

This advice came to Farhana from Heather Dietrick, the CEO of the Daily Beast (another IAC company), and that’s to actively solicit feedback about your work. “Feedback is a gift,” says Farhana. “Good or bad it’s a great way to improve, deliver beyond expectations – because now you know what the expectations are – and make sure your work is top of mind to those around you and those above you.”

 

3. Champion Your Team

 

Great leaders know that their team is the best reflection of their work, so they go beyond supporting their teams’ performance. “You need to make sure the organization as a whole knows you have leadership capabilities,” says Farhana. Behind the scenes, at meetings and in conversation with other key decision-makers, the best leaders recognize their team’s achievements and congratulate top performers. “It’s much easier for me to champion others than myself,” Farhana observes. “When you champion others, you highlight the critical work you’re doing and spotlight what you’ve accomplished which garners visibility through other people instead of self-promotion.”

 

4. Merchandise Your Best Work

 

Making it on the CEO shortlist is about building trust in your ability to manage yourself. To do that, you need to actively and strategically merchandise your best work. What does this mean?

 

“Talk about your accomplishments,” says Farhana. “Really think about the work that you’re doing and share that out periodically. Schedule time or send an email with a quick, unsolicited update that highlights one big accomplishment or discovery that you, your function, your team uncovered and share one challenge.” By sharing a full picture of your work, you are showing key decision makers that you have what it takes to lead. It demonstrates the leadership traits of good communication, high-level problem solving, and team management – a sure way onto Farhana’s CEO shortlist.

 

5. Speak up

 

“It’s not just about making your work visible. It’s about making yourself visible.” Early in her career, Farhana herself says she struggled to speak up in meetings. “I didn’t want to be someone who talked for the sake of talking.” Speaking up in meetings is critical, but launches some of us into self-editing and censorship – especially in when speaking up or even interrupting powerful voices in the room. One strategy Farhana employed was to build allies, like her CEO or a peer, to give her the floor or hold her accountable when they felt she was holding back. It’s also about tying your work back to the broader mission. “If you hold yourself back, you’re doing a disservice to the team. When you start to realize it’s about the work, not your ego, it’s easier to let go and trust the people around you.”

 

6. Bring Your Whole Self to Work

 

Between fables of women being too emotional and the pay cut working mothers take, it’s natural to be wary of bringing your personal life into the office. Thing is, stories are sticky and emotional connections create lasting relationships. This helps you stand out and be more memorable. If you’re someone to which this doesn’t come naturally, Farhana has some practical advice. “Be thoughtful and intentional about preparing and having things to talk about. Maybe it’s the World Cup or a new restaurant near the office. Opening up and having that anecdote lets my colleagues learn a little more about me and I can learn more about them. It strengthens our connection.” The work of connecting with your team is just as important as the big idea, thoughts, or question you want to share during the meeting.