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Facing Criticism at the Top

Procter&Gamble CEO A. G. Lafley finds out what his employees really think about him when he receives the results of his 360-degree feedback evaluation. The human resources tool that strengths and weaknesses can be brutally honest because it lets a circle of people from executive on down give him anonymous* performance reviews. The results show that others at P&G think Lafley is impatient. Lafley must also test the patience of others because he is severely criticized for being late to meetings.

Feedback leads to growth

Most CEOs would be tempted to cut 360-degree feedback from the budget. That's because most CEOs avoid criticism. It can be frustrating, Lafley says. After all, he must be doing things right to have risen to the top of 138, 000 employees in 80 countries. P&G stock has been setting new highs, and Lafley was named one of America's Best Leaders in 2006 by U.S. News & World Report. But Lafley accepts the because he says feedback leads to growth. He even schedules time with the most relentless* critics, such as animal rights groups that object to testing on rodents.

Surprising findings

Such openness is not common in Corporate America's corner offices. A study by the HR firm, PsyMax Solutions found that there is something about that last job promotion that makes many other CEOs suddenly . PsyMax surveyed 13, 000 employees, including 242 CEOs, to determine which ones were resilient, thick-skinned and good at taking criticism. PsyMax called it being tough-minded among non-management workers, 83 percent had those qualities. Among those promoted to supervisor or foreman, 79 percent had those qualities. But something happens to those who take the last step up: just 65.5 percent of CEOs, presidents, and chief operating officers were.

"That wasn't a finding we expected, but it holds up statistically,” says PsyMax CEO Wayne Nemeroff.

Vocabulary Focus

thin-skinned(adj)--- easily hurt

anonymous(adj)--- being done by someone whose name is not known or not made public

chronically(adv)--- in a habitual manner

relentless(adj)--- countinuing in a severe of extreme way

Specialized terms

body blow(adj)--- 重击 an action that causes great physical or emotional damage