Embracing Change Proactively
Global CEOs Feel Prepared for the Unexpected in a Volatile World
The following contribution comes from the Arthur D. Little website, which describes itself as: Making a Difference for 135 Years
As the world’s first management consulting firm, we have been connecting people, technology, and strategy for 135 years. Learn more about our illustrious history of innovation and some of the transformative projects we have worked on over the years.
THE AUTHORS
Francesco Marsella, Managing Partner, Italy; Ralf Baron, Partner, Germany; Petter Kilefors, Managing Partner, Sweden; and Maximilian Scherr, Partner, Austria.
Focused on growth, innovation, and embracing disruption. That is the key message from today’s global CEOs, as described in Arthur D. Little’s (ADL) latest CEO Insights study. The CEOs of the world’s largest companies feel more prepared than ever to address and benefit from today’s economic, technological, and geopolitical challenges, and are proactively seizing the opportunities created by continuous and unprecedented change, regardless of their sector or location.
2025 marks the third year of ADL’s flagship global study, CEO Insights,
which included interviews with more than 300 CEOs of companies worldwide with revenues exceeding US$1 billion.
These CEOs lead organizations across eight sectors: telecommunications, energy and utilities, automotive, manufacturing, travel and transportation, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, and high-tech and digital, and operate in Europe, Asia, the Middle East/India, Africa, and North and South America.
In a time of unprecedented change, CEOs are confident in the future business outlook, with 97% expecting the medium-term global economic outlook to improve or remain stable over the next three to five years. Three-quarters (75%) believe they will improve, compared to just 22% two years ago. With a positive outlook for the future, all CEOs are investing to drive growth.
Unstable markets mean volatility must be incorporated into planning.
CEOs understand that markets are volatile, but they are future-proofing their businesses by incorporating volatility into their business planning and adopting more agile, short-term strategies that allow them to capitalize on change.
Geopolitics as a determining factor. Today’s CEOs see geopolitics as a market determinant that they must incorporate into their strategies. They understand they must take steps in anticipation of the potential consequences of the US elections, along with a willingness to adapt and a desire to collaborate more closely with governments to gain support.
Among those anticipating future changes, nearly three-quarters (72%) of companies with a budget between $1 billion and $10 billion expect significant changes. Governments are playing an increasingly active role in the business environment, with nearly seven out of ten CEOs viewing government intervention as a useful support for growth.
Chief executives are making bold decisions and focusing on the positive aspects of change and increased government intervention, while also adopting techniques such as scenario planning to anticipate possible futures.
Growth is central to CEOs’ strategies, and all respondents plan for their companies to grow at or above the market rate, with more than two-thirds increasing their investment year-over-year.
When asked how they plan to generate growth, the results show significant differences between top- and middle-quartile companies, where leaders take a more balanced approach that utilizes a broader range of internal and external levers, along with a focus on the core business. When analyzing the best-performing growth strategies, CEOs remain more satisfied with investments in organic growth than with mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Ninety-eight percent say these strategies meet or exceed expectations, compared to 70% for M&A. The imperative is clear: companies must optimize their internal growth engines and use M&A selectively to complement, rather than replace, internal growth.
Improving Performance and Increasing Productivity
CEOs see a strong need to improve performance to increase productivity, and the most optimistic are investing more and expecting better returns.
Across all sectors, geographies, and company sizes, CEOs aim to invest between 1% and 2% of their revenue in performance initiatives to achieve annual productivity improvements of around 8% over the next three years. The CEOs who are most optimistic about future global economic growth are investing the most, but they also have the highest expectations, seeking performance improvements exceeding 9%.
CEOs understand the importance of improving the performance of existing assets, processes, and people.
They must be bold and adopt large-scale, transformative programs that go beyond vertical cost reduction to more broadly address process improvement and redesign using AI and other technologies.
AI has the potential to transform how businesses operate, both tactically and strategically. Organizations must move beyond pilot projects and focus on efficiency to unlock the full potential of AI.
As a sign of the AI boom, a growing number of companies (29%) report having a compelling enterprise-wide AI strategy, rather than focusing on technology at the departmental or business unit level—double the number projected for 2024. CEOs are adopting a portfolio approach that allows them to test AI across a wide range of use cases, from data analytics to supply chain.
The Four Waves of AI Adoption
Looking ahead, CEOs and their leadership teams must adopt a structured approach to AI adoption, moving beyond experimentation and pilot programs to integrate AI into long-term strategy and operations. This will enable them to realize its full transformative benefits and provide a true competitive advantage.
Chief executives in all countries have integrated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their strategies and are giving them a priority similar to that of other corporate initiatives.
ESG criteria have become a central element of corporate life, with 88% of CEOs giving this discipline the same attention as other corporate initiatives. 94% of companies are integrating it comprehensively throughout the entire organization, rather than treating it as an isolated initiative.
Economic and Ideological Considerations
Economic and, in some cases, ideological considerations have led many governments to recently dismiss ESG criteria. Looking ahead, CEOs should focus on ESG projects that generate social benefits and a return on investment (ROI) for businesses; for example, by reducing costs through the installation of renewable energy or creating new revenue streams through the circular economy.
Chief executives believe their organizations are less prepared than they were a year ago, but still «good enough,» which could pose a problem for the future.
All the CEOs surveyed believe their current organization is at least adequate to cope with a volatile world. However, the majority (51%) describe their organization as merely «good enough,» and only 4% consider it to be above the overall market. They also believe their staff has the right skills, and 90% describe the need for retraining as moderate or limited.
Being or Not Being Strong for the Future
CEOs must recognize that even if their organizational structures are currently «good enough,» they may not be robust enough for the future. Now is the time to conduct critical, thorough, and measured assessments of their structures and skills, and act on the results to adapt and transform their organizations.
Along with insights from the CEOs leading the world’s largest companies and a comprehensive analysis of industry differences, the study offers detailed recommendations to help CEOs of all businesses successfully drive growth, improve performance and thrive in an increasingly volatile world.
A Guide to Overcoming Poor Time Management: Strategies That Work
The following contribution comes from the TimeCamp portal, which describes itself as follows: About TimeCamp
Work. Earn. Enjoy. All in balance.
It’s possible with mindful time tracking.
Author: Kate Borucka
Kate is a professional freelance writer and translator specializing in time tracking software, time management, and SaaS solutions. With a degree in English Literature, she has a knack for transforming complex technical topics into clear and engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences.
When was the last time you relaxed for 30 minutes thinking you had nothing to do? It was probably a long time ago, because there’s always something to do. That next task you have to start at work, but the previous one is still ongoing. That meeting, and meeting after meeting, the emails and papers piling up on your desk. But then there’s that dinner, and a friend asked you for help. And you have to pick up the kids from school, but you’re already running late.
And you wake up the next day with a headache, but there are so many things to do.
Over and over again. Your endless to-do list haunts you at night, waking you up in the middle of your best sleep. You just don’t know what to do anymore…
Poor time management can be debilitating and ruin the harmony between your work and personal life. William Penn said, “Time is the thing we most desire, yet the thing we use the worst.” So, how do you use your time wisely and make the most of it?
Here’s everything you need to know to get rid of poor time management.
In this article, we’ll talk about:
What is time management and why is it important?
The causes of poor time management.
Symptoms and effects of bad time management habits.
Common time management problems and how to solve them.
How to avoid poor time management in 6 easy steps.
What is time management?
Time management is about how you plan, organize, and manage your days. It’s about dedicating your efforts intelligently to certain activities to get things done on time and still have free time for personal life and rest.
Time management is an essential skill for everyone, whether you’re a student balancing your social life with your studies or a professional, especially in today’s fast-paced world. It helps maintain physical and mental health while fostering personal growth.
The concept of time management has evolved over the centuries, but one of the first well-known figures to formally address it was Benjamin Franklin. In his essay «Counsels to a Young Merchant,» published in 1748, Franklin stated: «Remember that time is money.»
While time isn’t a resource in itself, if used wisely, it can lead to great achievements and personal growth.
Why does poor time management occur?
Poor time management habits aren’t isolated incidents. They’re usually the result of many overlapping factors and poor decisions that accumulate over time. It’s a process that carries negative consequences and can disrupt the balance between work and personal life.
So, why do you struggle with time? Generally, there’s no single answer to this question, as ineffective time management can manifest differently in each person.
Maura Thomas, award-winning international speaker, trainer, and author, states: “Our biggest challenge in the 21st century isn’t a lack of time. This challenge lies in the excess of distractions. Distraction steals not only moments from our lives, but life itself from our moments.”
Therefore, good time management doesn’t mean working harder and more diligently to achieve maximum productivity. It means focusing your attention on what truly matters.
Poor time management occurs when you don’t focus on the things that add value to your life, but instead get stuck in the frustration of productivity: more, faster, and better.
What are the symptoms of poor time management?
Interestingly, the symptoms of poor time management can be the same as its causes and effects. That’s why it’s so difficult to make a difference and identify the right moment for change.
However, there are some key signs that can indicate something is wrong:
Too many commitments. When you take on too many tasks on your already tight to-do list.
Lack of punctuality. You’re often late or always in a rush.
Feelings of guilt or imposter syndrome. You may feel you’re not good enough even though you’re giving it your all and getting good results.
Frequent missed deadlines. When you regularly fail to deliver your projects on time.
Procrastination. Delaying tasks or decisions due to discomfort, fear of failure, or a preference for short-term gratification can result in a backlog of work and increased stress.
Distractions. When you’re prone to switching contexts, engaging in non-work-related tasks, or being constantly interrupted by emails, phone calls, social media, or chatty colleagues.
Ineffective planning. This occurs when you don’t dedicate enough time to tasks, underestimate their complexity, or fail to anticipate potential obstacles.
Perfectionism. The pursuit of perfection can result in spending too much time on minor details, leading to delays in completing work and a reluctance to delegate tasks.
Addressing poor time management often involves a combination of high self-awareness, prioritization, effective planning,
setting boundaries, and developing strategies to minimize distractions and increase focus.
The effects of poor time management
The effects of poor time management can be exhausting. But the good news is that it’s never too late to improve. Let’s look at some of the most common effects of poor time management and how they can impact your life.
Work-Life Balance
If you don’t manage your time effectively in the long run, sooner or later you’ll start pushing the boundaries between your different commitments.
While work influences your personal life, and your personal life influences your work, not setting a clear boundary can affect both. While it’s important to perform your daily tasks to the best of your ability, you should never do so at the expense of your other responsibilities.
Remember: there’s time for work and time for rest, friends, family, and hobbies.
Difficulty Relaxing
It can be difficult to relax and feel at peace when you’re often struggling to keep up. You constantly feel behind and can’t completely switch off. And when you take one step forward, you take two steps back. You know you’re making progress, but it’s hard to let go of that inner perfectionist.
Feeling constantly overwhelmed
The world today is fast-paced and whirls around like crazy. These days, it seems like you can’t stop for even 5 seconds because you have to catch up. And it just keeps going! Because there’s always so much to do!
If you don’t have good time management habits, you’ll experience unnecessary stress and feel like you always have to be on the go, in a constant state of alert.
Poor performance
When you don’t manage y
