Forty0 CEO when he The stereotypical view of a CEO-tough-minded, domi- nant, and hyper-aggressive--may be giving way to a more sensitive image. "S Nowhere is this shifting standard more apparent than at General Electric. There may be no CEO more revered for his leadership style than former CEO hack Welch, a tough guy." in his own words. Yet his handpicked successor, Jeff Immelt, is remarkable for Mis very different leadership style. Whereas Welch was intense, brash, and directive, Immelt was described by Francial Times as "unshakably polite, self-deprecating and relaxed." Of course, Immelt is only one leader, and his success at GE 5 Hardly assured But he is far from alone in the set of Semingly sensitive CEOs As CEO of Colgate-Palmolive, Reuben Mark had this leadership credo. "I have made it my business to be sure that nothing important or creative Colgate-Palmoine is perceived as my idea" Brad Show CEO of Calgary-based Shaw Communications, believes ther being a compassionate leader matters. "We're focused on business results and that's how we operate But I believe you can have better results with compassion Ascent study of CEOs seems to suggest that this trend reading the CEOs in its sample scored on avera coins tow average on tough-mindedness yes that erage. As one observer of the corporate world Concudes. The ack Welch approach appears to be on Your minn geritter approach works ony we press coverage in the ed States though War Street than the HILL'S cleanup of the Hanford site, argues that a central part of his job is showing them you care." Consider the meteoric rise of Barack Obams all the way from state senator to president in just five years While a student at Harvard Law School, Obama was famous attorney Laurence Tribe's research assistant Tribe said of Obama, "I've known senators, presidents I've never known anyone with what seems to me more raw political talent. He just seems to have the surest way of calmly teaching across what are impenetrable barriers to many people Although some have argued that Obama's presidential campaign represented an emphasis of style over sub Stance, wd the jury is still out on how effective he will tie as president, it may be that after years of acrimon. ous political wars, people considered the how as impor tant as the whar Despite serious economic problems in the United States, Obama's personal popularity remains steady in a 2011 poll more than 70 percent of respon dents said they liked him personally, even though a large number of people were not happy with the way the econ omy was unfolding Questions 1. Do you think the kinder, gentler leader image is just fad below Yewine 2. Do you think the kindergenter leadership approach works better in some situations than others possible that Welch and Immelt are both effective lessen? 3. Do you the leadership style of people w tas king Forty0 CEO when he The stereotypical view of a CEO-tough-minded, domi- nant, and hyper-aggressive--may be giving way to a more sensitive image. "S Nowhere is this shifting standard more apparent than at General Electric. There may be no CEO more revered for his leadership style than former CEO hack Welch, a tough guy." in his own words. Yet his handpicked successor, Jeff Immelt, is remarkable for Mis very different leadership style. Whereas Welch was intense, brash, and directive, Immelt was described by Francial Times as "unshakably polite, self-deprecating and relaxed." Of course, Immelt is only one leader, and his success at GE 5 Hardly assured But he is far from alone in the set of Semingly sensitive CEOs As CEO of Colgate-Palmolive, Reuben Mark had this leadership credo. "I have made it my business to be sure that nothing important or creative Colgate-Palmoine is perceived as my idea" Brad Show CEO of Calgary-based Shaw Communications, believes ther being a compassionate leader matters. "We're focused on business results and that's how we operate But I believe you can have better results with compassion Ascent study of CEOs seems to suggest that this trend reading the CEOs in its sample scored on avera coins tow average on tough-mindedness yes that erage. As one observer of the corporate world Concudes. The ack Welch approach appears to be on Your minn geritter approach works ony we press coverage in the ed States though War Street than the HILL'S cleanup of the Hanford site, argues that a central part of his job is showing them you care." Consider the meteoric rise of Barack Obams all the way from state senator to president in just five years While a student at Harvard Law School, Obama was famous attorney Laurence Tribe's research assistant Tribe said of Obama, "I've known senators, presidents I've never known anyone with what seems to me more raw political talent. He just seems to have the surest way of calmly teaching across what are impenetrable barriers to many people Although some have argued that Obama's presidential campaign represented an emphasis of style over sub Stance, wd the jury is still out on how effective he will tie as president, it may be that after years of acrimon. ous political wars, people considered the how as impor tant as the whar Despite serious economic problems in the United States, Obama's personal popularity remains steady in a 2011 poll more than 70 percent of respon dents said they liked him personally, even though a large number of people were not happy with the way the econ omy was unfolding Questions 1. Do you think the kinder, gentler leader image is just fad below Yewine 2. Do you think the kindergenter leadership approach works better in some situations than others possible that Welch and Immelt are both effective lessen? 3. Do you the leadership style of people w tas king