Today's CEOs: Guarding Against Value Destroyers

Every corporate suite has two types of executives. First, there are the value creators: those who believe in themselves, in the potential of others and in their ability to create a better organization. They don’t regard themselves as omnipotent; rather, they know that it is human to be imperfect, make mistakes, hold biases and occasionally be fooled by others. Consequently, value creators take proactive steps to safeguard against falling victim to their own shortcomings and the ill intentions of others. Value creators nurture and grow human capital.

Conversely, value destroyers are executives who fundamentally seek to seize value from those who create it and to secure their own career advancement, accolades, power, money or special privileges. With these executives, the focus is on them and their short-term needs rather than on achieving the company’s long-term strategic goals and results. Ultimately, they jeopardize the organization’s integrity and interests. Value destroyers often engage in counterproductive back-channel gossip, character assassination, political maneuvering and risky business practices. Value destroyers embezzle human capital.

The Role of the CEO
Organizations need good executives, and at the top of this leadership group is the CEO. While CEOs have multiple responsibilities, their primary objective should be to protect and promote the success of their companies. To that end, CEOs can arm themselves against value destroyers in various ways.

First, they must remain self-aware and combat their own tendencies toward destructive self-interest. Some CEOs look to their peers or HR departments for coaching to preserve their objectivity. Others document and share self-reflections with someone they trust in order to gain insights into their own behavior. The most effective strategy is to commit to an ongoing development process, ideally with a professional whose expertise is working with CEOs and senior executives.

Second, it is important for CEOs to search constantly for evidence of value destroyers. Self-interest at its best is a motivating force that drives individuals to aspire to and achieve success. But in the wrong hands, this otherwise positive element can be converted to a destructive force that undermines the integrity of the organization. Identifying value destroyers with precision and speed is paramount.