Don't Just Check the Box

This blog is not about the skills suggested by your competency vendor who built their competencies database in 1983. In their tired and out of date view, Business Acumen is defined as things such “Understanding the Business,” “Financial Literacy/Quantitative Acumen,” and “Focusing on Customers.”

While many CEOs and HR leaders may think this is great and “check off” a big box on their “competency to-do list,” these words are meaningless and out of context in 2021 and beyond. Over the past year, we have been working with leaders of large global companies to re-define their approach to talent development in several areas including Business Acumen.

I am pleased to share some of the deep insights we have gathered and identify what the real Business Acumen Skills CEOs want everyone in the organization to know from a practical… and more importantly… applicable way that impacts the ability to compete and achieve business results.