The Board Report
Chief Influencer® Featured Episode: The CEO Responsibility to Influence
The expectations for CEO visibility and values alignment continue to rise across all industries, so this month, we spotlight a powerful conversation with nonprofit CEOs on the Chief Influencer® podcast: “The Responsibility to Influence: Insights from Nonprofit CEOs” (Re-Air).
In this special episode, leaders across the nonprofit sector share how they are navigating some of today’s hardest challenges and building influence by looking at elevating stories of people from within their organizations, leveraging partnerships, and understanding how “faces are the new logos.” The episode points to some valuable lessons for executives and emerging leaders heading into 2026.
Explore more episodes featuring our Chief Influencer® award winners
Year-End CEO Messaging: How Self-Celebration Increases Team Confidence
New research shows that while CEOs and organizational leaders analyze problems year-round, they rarely slow down to celebrate their achievements. However, research has shown that by making progress visible, leaders can increase confidence, boost employee motivation, and reinforce organizational identity.
In Practice: Encourage executives to highlight accomplishments in their December reflections and holiday parties, year-end memos, town halls, and holiday messages. Positive retrospection is not indulgence; it’s strategic leadership and encourages building on success.
Industry Highlights
Investors prefer “I” over “we” when CEOs apologize
New research analyzing CEO apologies finds that investors respond more favorably when leaders use “I” statements (“I made a mistake”) rather than more diffuse “we” statements. The reason: Personal accountability signals integrity and reduces perceived evasiveness.
In Practice: Especially when addressing stakeholders, coach company executives to adopt direct, personal language in apology or correction statements.
Why your PR team should go big on a new CEO announcement
A large-scale study of 557 CEO successions found that companies that communicate more frequently and prominently about their new CEO see meaningful financial and reputational gains.
In Practice: If a PR team highlights a new CEO’s appointment, it can accelerate market confidence and strengthen the new leader’s long-term influence.
Study: CEO Political Talk Is Turning Customers Away
Yale researchers found that even among prior brand loyalists, Elon Musk’s political commentary significantly reduced Tesla vehicle consideration across key consumer segments. The study reveals a sharp decline in purchase intent linked directly to political identity alignment.
In Practice: CEOs with high personal visibility must calibrate political messaging carefully since research shows that brand affinity now correlates more strongly than ever with leader alignment.
“Too nice” online? New research shows it may reveal you’re an AI
A new multi-university study finds that AI-generated social media posts tend to be overly polite, relentlessly positive, and emotionally flat. Platforms may soon use these cues to identify AI bots at scale.
In Practice: For communicators using AI writing tools, incorporate natural tonal variation. Messages that feel too agreeable may undermine authenticity and credibility
Thank you for reading this month’s The Board Report. Forward to a colleague, share feedback, and stay tuned for December’s research roundup.
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