CEO Influence Rising: Election Edition

For three decades, MikeWorldWide has been dedicated to studying reputation and the role CEOs play in building trust and strengthening businesses. We’ve always believed that the CEO is a critical steward of a company’s reputation. Reflecting on iconic leaders from the early years of my career—like Jack Welch, Lee Iacocca, and Herb Kelleher—I remember them for their contributions to business priorities like talent evaluation, brand revitalization, and product innovation. (Notably, Iacocca was an early advocate for renewable energy.) Today’s CEOs face an even more complex role, especially evident in this year’s presidential election.

It began with the endorsement battle and stump speeches: Elon Musk vs. Mark Cuban. But recently, we’ve seen increased scrutiny around CEO reactions to President-elect Trump’s victory. To date, 13 CEOs, mostly from tech, have congratulated him—from their personal accounts. For years, we’ve counseled clients that engagement with any administration should respect the office, not politics. So this development is unsurprising.

Two significant trends to acknowledge here are the growing influence of CEOs and the workplace becoming a new “neighborhood.” As trust in institutions declines, employers are increasingly central to their employees’ lives. Companies now support employee well-being, not just by offering health insurance, but by addressing mental health, civic engagement, and caregiving support. Even in a hybrid and remote work environment, the workplace has become a community. Consequently, CEO influence is also growing—beyond strictly business issues.

Understanding the role your CEO should play amid these conflicting trends can be challenging. The expectation for CEOs to be vocal on societal issues that arose during COVID is now complicated by backlash around topics like ESG and DEI, as well as geopolitical conflicts. How can CEOs “take a stand” in a polarized world and workplace?

The era of “taking a stand” for the sake of it is over. “Taking a stand” implies controversy or combativeness. Today, we need CEOs to facilitate conversation and advocate thoughtful positions. This doesn’t mean avoiding unique, thought-provoking, or contrarian views. But in uncertain times, leaders should be the thermometer, not the thermostat. CEOs should set the tone, encourage thoughtful dialogue, respect differing viewpoints, and contribute to civil discourse. They should share a perspective rooted in experience and shape conversations productively.

How can CEOs make a difference in this moment? First, CEOs should be voices of reason and reassurance for their employees during uncertain times. Within an organization, they must unify people and find common ground. In the past 24 hours, I’ve seen several remind their teams about the power of democracy—regardless of their personal candidate preferences. This message is both appropriate and valuable.

Never underestimate the power of listening. In conference rooms and Zoom calls across America, the question often arises: “What should we say?” But is this even the right question? The art of influence begins with listening, not talking. Speaking just to say something isn’t influence; it’s amplification. Louder is not necessarily better.

Acknowledging issues is half the battle. Think of your CEO as the “Chief Empathy Officer.” While leaders are expected to know their business, no one has all the answers to the world’s challenges. Whether addressing inflation’s impact on households or the emotional toll of global unrest, acknowledging complexity and uncertainty can make people more receptive to your perspective.

Use your influence wisely. The line between guidance and overreach is thin. Overuse of influence yields diminishing returns. Reserve guidance for issues that closely align with personal and organizational values.

As CEOs expand their influence beyond their organizations, I am encouraged by the shift of CEOs from celebrities to thoughtful influencers. As companies’ roles in society grow, so too does CEO influence. As communicators, we play an important role in helping CEOs understand and seize this opportunity, using it to drive positive returns on company reputation.