Viewed in Egon Zehnder
A recent study of over 75 CEOs and BU heads across Spain, Portugal, and Italy reveals that while executive teams are largely aligned on strategy, they struggle with two critical areas: conflict resolution and time management.
CEOs agree—strong leadership isn’t just about individual brilliance but cohesive, structured collaboration guided by mutual accountability and clarity of roles.
Alignment Drives Satisfaction, but Structure Sustains It
Most CEOs cite high satisfaction with their teams’ alignment around vision and priorities. In Spain, 60% say team members contribute meaningfully to strategy definition.
However, this alignment must be supported by clear organizational charts and transparent reporting structures to prevent strategy from being dictated by a small inner circle, as is often the case. CEOs should revisit their company organization charts to ensure inclusiveness and clarity in decision-making roles.
Conflict Avoidance Erodes Accountability
While teams care about each other, 21% of Spanish CEOs say honest feedback is lacking. This creates blind spots in leadership performance. Leaders must build a culture where difficult conversations are routine, not avoided. Equipping the team with tools to handle conflict constructively—and reflecting this in updated organizational charts—ensures clarity in roles and expectations.
Time Is Strategy — Manage It as Such
Only 10% of Spanish CEOs are highly satisfied with their team’s time use. As meetings multiply, productivity declines. C-suite leaders should champion time discipline by reducing low-value meetings and ensuring senior leaders focus on strategic outputs aligned with their position in the reporting structure.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Audit your leadership team’s decision-making pathways using your organizational chart.
- Establish conflict resolution norms at the top of the org.
- Reassess meeting structures and time use at the executive level.
By reinforcing alignment with structure and enabling direct, honest feedback, CEOs can drive higher executive team performance and organizational impact.
Special thanks to Luis Gustavo Giolo for his expert insights on leadership, org charts, and executive team dynamics across Spain, Portugal, and Brazil.
