Hi {{ subscriber.first_name }}, After interviewing more than 1,000 CEOs, Adam Bryant has seen it all. Adam is the former New York Times journalist behind the iconic Corner Office column, now Managing Director at the ExCo Group and author of four bestselling books on leadership, including The CEO Test and The Leap to Leader. When he joined me on The World-Class Leaders Show, Adam didn’t just offer theory. He revealed what actually shows up in the room when high-performance CEOs lead. What they say. What they don’t. And why some stall while others soar. Here’s what stood out most. “To be world-class, it’s not enough to be smart, strategic, and experienced. That gets you to the table. What sets the best apart is what they do when the game gets hard.” 1/ It starts with simplicity. Not just strategic simplicity, but communication. The best CEOs have a rare ability to cut through complexity and bring calm in chaos. When a room is tense, their clarity centers everyone. They don’t overwhelm. They align. 2/ Then there’s authenticity A word we hear often, but rarely see practiced at the top. Adam made it clear: People don’t just want to know what you stand for. They want to know why. The CEOs who earn real loyalty share personal stories behind their values. They don’t perform leadership—they live it. And when asked who they are as leaders, they don’t fumble. They have an answer that feels human, not rehearsed. But what may be most overlooked is... 3/ The CEO’s relationship with paradox Adam calls it “living in the tension.” Should you be decisive or collaborative? Urgent or patient? Compassionate or demanding? The answer, often, is both—and the great CEOs know how to shift with context. They don’t rigidly cling to one style. They evolve in the moment. 4/ Feedback Most CEOs live in filtered realities. People tell them what they want to hear. But the best don’t tolerate that. They design systems to gather unfiltered insights from deep within the organization—then act on them. They know trust erodes when truth is missing. Toward the end of our conversation, Adam shared something that stayed with me: “Resilience is a double-edged sword. Most leaders rise because they’ve learned to solve problems alone. But the moment they become CEOs, that mindset becomes dangerous.” This is the trap: Believing that strong leadership means carrying the burden alone. The best CEOs do the opposite. They say, “I need your help.” Not because they’re weak—but because they understand shared ownership is the only sustainable path forward. 5/ Legacy While many CEOs are chasing performance, the world-class ones are chasing impact. They want to build something that outlasts them. And often, that drive stems from adversity. Adam shared how the majority of high-performing CEOs he interviewed had early life challenges—financial hardship, loss, immigrant backgrounds. That struggle became their fuel. This conversation reinforced what I deeply believe: You don’t become a world-class CEO by doing more. You become one by going deeper. Deeper into clarity. 🎧 If you're a CEO—or plan to become one—don’t miss this episode. Adam’s insights could save you years of learning the hard way. 👉 Watch the full episode here Andrea Petrone CEO Whisperer | Top 1% Executive Coach and Speaker in the UK | Founder of WCL. You need more? Here are other ways to get value from what I do: 1) I’m launching Transformation Labs—new programs designed for every stage of a CEO’s journey: from new appointments to major transitions and legacy building. There’s also a new Lab dedicated to CEO leadership teams. Reply LAB if you’d like to explore how this could work for you, and we’ll set up a quick call. 2) Are you tired of leading alone and want to surround yourself with people who truly get it? WCL21 might be exactly what you need. WCL21 is our new hub for CEOs. Get inspired and build your powerful allies. Join the waiting list here 3) Want to establish authority and lead with confidence from Day One as a CEO? 3) Watch and listen to the "The World Class Leaders Show" podcast and leave a review: 4) Do you want me to speak at your next event or do you want me to support your organisation in a new initiative? Book a call with me here |