Many CEOs' first year at the helm is marked by surprises, growth and regret.
Russell Reynolds Associates interviewed 35 CEOs who had been leading their organization for 12 to 18 months and collected quantitative data from 178 CEOs. The findings were outlined in an Aug. 7 Harvard Business Review article.
Here are four highlights:
1. Regrets with moving slowly
When asked what they would do differently in their first year if they could, 66% of CEOs said they would "move faster on making changes to and building their teams," according to the article.
2. Adapting leadership style
Leadership styles were the second-most-common regret reported. Nearly half of the CEOs mentioned issues such as lacking assertiveness when making decisions or taking too long to step into the role mentally — acting as if they were still in their previous role, for example — as obstacles to succeeding at the helm.
3. Unexpected culture
Three in 4 CEOs surveyed were surprised by the negative nature of the organization's culture, according to the study.
4. Satisfaction with the team
Despite the surprise with culture, 89% said they were "positively surprised" by their employees' dedication and quality.