Career tip from the ex-Siemens boss: You can only make it to the top if you follow two rules

2021-06-28T21:21:18.620Z

As a former CEO at Siemens, Joe Kaeser knows what qualities managers need to be able to survive at the top. Here he reveals his tips.

As a former CEO at Siemens, Joe Kaeser knows what qualities managers need to be able to survive at the top.

Here he reveals his tips.

After more than 40 years at Siemens, 64-year-old Joe Kaeser retired as CEO of the technology group in 2021.

The business administration graduate had a steep career at Siemens: in 2006 Kaeser became Chief Financial Officer, in 2013 he finally made it to the top and became CEO.

CEOs always “walk a tightrope” when they speak out

Life at the top was not always easy. Compromises are part of this position, even when it comes to one's own values and views, as he recently revealed. "In this position you can no longer just be yourself," Kaeser tells

Business Insider

magazine

"I had to fill many roles and act in completely different worlds"

, says Kaeser.

“Dealing with this spread is not always easy.” Although Kaeser has always appeared as a strong opinion leader in public, every statement on socio-political issues was always a “tightrope walk”, as he frankly admits: “At the end of the day I was one Employee who is committed to shareholders, customers and employees.

But also of society. ”That is why a CEO must also express himself on socio-political issues and take responsibility for them.

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Career tip for young people: "Always try to be authentic"

Based on these experiences, Kaeser's opinion is that

not only technical, but also social skills are essential in

order to be able to

survive

in top positions.

He therefore advises young people who want to pursue a career as a manager to follow two rules:

“Form yourselves broadly.

Openness, empathy and social integration skills are very important in addition to professional expertise

You have to learn how to deal with each other, even with different opinions, backgrounds and interests.

This becomes all the more important the higher you rise in the hierarchy. "

“Always tries to be

authentic

Don't pretend to be a personality that you are not.

The organization notices this faster than you think.

And: You feel miserable about it. "

With this, the experienced ex-Siemens boss underlines what application experts have been advising for years: Only those who remain authentic - that is, "real" - in the interview will find the right employer and have long-term success there.

“An authentic person radiates that he or she stands by himself, his strengths and weaknesses.

To a certain extent, he is

in harmony with himself

and the environment also feels that, ”confirm the experts from

karrierebibel.de

So you don't have to be perfect in all facets of your profession - authenticity makes a lot of money.

Elon Musk also follows this rule, as can be seen regularly through his presentation style.

(as)

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