Chris Oliviero is the Executive Vice President for Programming at CBS Radio. Among the many nominations he received for Radio Ink‘s first-ever 20 Best Leader’s list included this comment: “In a business of difficult decisions, Chris is a thoughtful leader who conducts himself in a manner that is respectful, ethical, and valuable. He is the glue that makes CBS Radio the great company that it is today.” On Monday, Radio Ink‘s newest list was unveiled. It’s a list chosen by the radio industry, the rank-and-file foot soldiers who make this industry tick every day. One of the people that made this first list (although we are not giving away his ranking) is Chris Oliviero. Here’s why…
Radio Ink: What does it take to be a strong leader in the radio industry today?
Chris Oliviero: Vision, communication, and trust are three essential elements to leadership. First you must have a clear, compelling, and strategic roadmap for the future of either your organization as a whole or that of a particular individual. Then you need to consistently and as straightforward as possible articulate that path to travel. Last, but certainly most importantly, those you are entrusted with to guide must credibly believe and have faith in you as a person that you have their best interests at heart. They must also feel that at the end of this journey, if they commit, the stated goal will be accomplished and they will be better off personally and professionally for going down that road side by side with you.
Radio Ink: How have you been able to get people to work so hard for you, to want to succeed for you?
Chris Oliviero: Motivation is a visual art form above all. If colleagues physically see you, day in and day out, putting into practice your collective mission, that can’t but positively influence their effort. The opposite is the death knell of motivation, or as I like to say the “empty suit syndrome,” where you talk a good game but never follow through in turning the aspirational vision into reality. Finally, I have always held firm to the adage “Never ask someone to do something you have never done yourself before or would not be willing to do today if necessary.” We glamorize the pep talk, especially in sports, but I believe actions are more motivating than words themselves.
Radio Ink: How have you put yourself in a position throughout your career to lead people successfully? What did you do to educate yourself along the way?
Chris Oliviero: Leadership is not the same as a dictatorship, as some sadly believe. The minute you embrace this principle it frees you up to say those magical words “I don’t know” and simultaneously empowers your colleagues to step up and say “I have an idea!” Of course, when a decision needs to be made, a good leader has to own it, but in the process of coming to that final conclusion the more input sources of data or opinion you have to digest, the likelihood of coming to a more successful verdict increases, in my mind.
Radio Ink: What advice do you have for others who strive to be a strong leader like yourself?
Chris Oliviero: Oh this is a no brainer – to be a good leader you must also be a good follower. No matter where we are in our lives there is always someone that is in a leadership position in relation to us. You could be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company but guess what, you still need to respectfully follow the guidance of your board of directors. Or you might even be the owner of your own business, but at the same time maybe only the assistant coach on your kid’s little league team. If you are not willing to be led, then you have no business asking others to follow you. Ego is another killer of leadership.
Radio Ink: Millennials are said to have more in common with baby boomers than Gen-Xers in terms of mindset, goals, and aspirations. How do you bridge the gap between Gen-X managers and millennial employees?
Chris Oliviero: The most critical attribute needed to bridge any gap between individuals, either in the workplace or in our private lives, is respect. It is well documented and even celebrated, the concept of respect from a younger generation towards an older generation, but the reverse is many times overlooked and underappreciated. It is important that the more experienced generation of managers acknowledge the unique priorities and passions of their millennial colleagues without dismissing them just because it is not a carbon copy of our own career development. If we create an environment that is more welcoming of this generation’s modus operandi we will not only attract more of this generation’s brightest minds but also get the maximum results from their efforts.
Radio Ink: Leaders lead by example. In today’s 24/7 connected world, how do you balance work and a personal life — and encourage employees to do the same?
Chris Oliviero: A leader must set healthy boundaries and recognize what happens when we go beyond them, especially in trying to juggle the work and personal life balance. No job – regardless of position – is worth sacrificing a healthy and enjoyable personal life. Little things go far in accomplishing this such as limiting weekend and evening emails to only time-sensitive requests and gently prodding colleagues to make sure they maximize all their vacation days. A well-timed and delivered-with-a-smile phrase, “go home early,” on slower than normal days, especially around long weekends, can make a world of difference. As financial pressures might at times limit a company’s ability to reward staff with traditional bonuses as often as they’d like, sometimes additional vacation days to spend with family is also a nice gesture to say to an employee “job well done.”
Radio Ink: How do you feel about the overall leadership in the radio industry today?
Chris Oliviero: Radio has been blessed with many industry titans and trailblazers for close to a century now, each contributing to the business’ growth. But as in the past there comes certain key pivot points, where the competitive landscape requires an openness to evolve the model. We are clearly in the midst of another one of these transition phases in the industry’s lifecycle that will demand new thinking and norm challenging. Current leadership needs to embrace not only this moment but also those people that can help us navigate it successfully. An obligation of current leadership is to be true stewards of the business and secure the future for the generations yet to come; it is not only to make decisions for today. This is the responsibility we all must accept.
Reach out to Chris by e-mail at [email protected]. Part one in our series: Forcht Broadcasting CEO Mike Tarter
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Chris is the real deal. He lives by what he says.