What: McKinsey polled a number of CEOs to identify the top 6 strategic issues for 2023.

Why it is important: Even though the context is challenging, it is all about being able to keep the mental space enabling to think differently, in order to identify and cultivate new opportunities, engage the teams. This supposes to be able to understand what tech can do to help and can not, especially when it comes to maintaining the course to net-zero.

McKinsey acknowledges the fact that the business world has considerably changed in the course of 2 years, leading to an increased difficulty in the management of complex organisations. Time management and prioritization are key for CEOs and the consulting company has polled a number of them in order to understand what the 6 priorities are (or skills to acquire) for this year:

-    Resilience, in order to face any potential disruption, survive in a downturn and regain ground in the next cycle. It is a question of being able to review much faster the six dimensions of resilience: finance, operations, technology, organization, business model and reputation.

-    Take courage, with a leadership supposed to be both prudent and bold, in order to play offense and defense at the same time. Postponing initiatives and scaling back plans might seem tempting, but McKinsey sees them as wrong moves. It is all about managing the day-to-day business but with the next decade in mind.

-    Be able to spot any now opportunity to hatch a new business (McKinsey sees green technologies as a good example and a future market estimated at $12 trillion). How to do so? By setting the bar very high (think unicorns) and then protect the new business form business as usual.

-    Consider tech as the basis for growth, which implies to be tech-literate. This includes CEOs.

-    Continue the course to net-zero in spite of the current events (war in Ukraine) as this is the only future. CEOs must be able to face headwinds and maintain their course towards this goal.

-    Rebuild the employee experience taking into account the purpose of the office and how it can bring additional perks to employees for whom work-from-home is a new norm. It is all about reengaging the workforce.

The 116-pages long report details in depth each of these points and provides concrete business cases.

What matters most for CEOs? 6 priorities for 2023