Egon Zehnder's latest global CEO survey, The CEO Response, reveals that almost all (99%) CEOs surveyed in APAC CEOs prioritised "cultivating a culture of openness and curiosity" as an essential adaptive skill for the future, closely followed by "honing the ability to listen" (97%).
"CEOs are embracing a new era of leadership," said Michael Ensser, global chair of Egon Zehnder. "They are positioning themselves as key architects of societal progress. As complexity increases, they recognise that fostering curiosity and openness within their organisations will be critical to meeting the challenges ahead."
Adaptive and relational leadership
The survey also reveals that 82% of APAC CEOs said they needed to hone their "ability to include diverse and challenging views" as very to extremely important, higher than 56% for Europe and 62% for North America.
Moreover, 28% of APAC CEOs ranked "investing in transforming myself " as extremely important, higher compared to Europe (14%) and North America (20%)
"APAC CEOs are demonstrating a significant shift in leadership approaches, prioritising self-awareness and inclusivity as core qualities. This marks a departure from traditional, hierarchical leadership structures toward a more adaptive and forward-thinking model," said Wan May Ang, partner and Singapore office leader at Egon Zehnder.
Navigating uncertainties
Some 24% of APAC CEOs rated their preparedness to face the increasing complexities of global business at 7 out of 10, compared to 16% in Europe and 12% in North America (12%).
Statistics imply that APAC business leaders have more confidence in navigating future uncertainties, geopolitical instability, AI adoption, and talent development.
