Should Other Business Leaders Copy A Daily Habit Of Microsoft’s CEO?

There are innumerable books, podcasts, and seminars aimed at enhancing business leadership, but one Big Tech executive turns to others in similar positions (including rivals) for a daily dose of inspiration and encouragement.

Two calls per day

Satya Nadella isn’t hoping to trick fellow CEOs into releasing trade secrets when he carves out time for two such phone calls every day. Instead, he’s flexing his networking muscles and keeping a finger on the pulse not only of the tech industry but the business world in general.

New reports indicate that Nadella keeps the conversations pretty short, typically seeking responses to two questions:

• What startup companies have excited you lately?
• Have you met anyone you would recommend getting to know?

With these open-ended queries, Nadella puts the ball in the other CEO’s court … and the strategy apparently pays off. He credits these daily calls with forging important relationships and corporate partnerships with an array of individuals and companies.

A solid gameplan

Root Coaching & Consulting founder Rebecca Arnold addressed an underlying issue that many executives struggle with — and Nadella’s networking regimen might be a prime strategy for addressing it. She noted that a large number of corporate leaders have acknowledged that they wish they had more colleagues to discuss ideas and create strategies.

By going outside of his own company, Microsoft’s CEO has access to leaders from all walks of life, meaning he receives input that he might never hear if he remained secluded within the tech realm.

And the results appear to speak for themselves. Microsoft has been an industry leader for generations and continues to bring new, innovative ideas to the public. So if you’re feeling stuck, consider taking a page out of Nadella’s playbook and contacting a few folks in similar positions but with much different life experiences.

Chris Agee October 15th, 2024

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