The Advisory

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

1) Stakeholders expect Connected Leadership. Majorities of employees and financial readers expect corporate leaders to use online platforms to communicate about a range of issues — from the company’s mission, vision, and values to crisis response.

2) Connected Leadership is key to employee engagement. Employees prefer to work for Connected Leaders by a 4 to 1 ratio. Direct and transparent leadership communications are leading factors for employee retention.

3) Connected Leadership is a competitive advantage – online and offline. Executives cite a range of tangible benefits resulting from their online platforms, including complementing traditional investor relations and advancing public affairs objectives.

4) Authentic Connected Leadership builds trust. Financial readers trust leaders who use social media by a 6 to 1 ratio compared to those who do not. Authenticity is key to building this reservoir of trust before it is needed. 

5) Effective Connected Leadership requires strategy and resources. Top Connected Leaders take their programs seriously and strategically, investing resources in staff, content, and analytics. However, their programs do not require significant time from executives themselves. Top executives on social media spend on average between 30 – 60 minutes per week on their platforms.