{
  "id": 11668797,
  "title": "Nitin Nohria: Why it’s so hard for CEOs to stay grounded",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/nitin-nohria-why-its-so-hard-for-ceos-to-stay-grounded",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-03T10:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/10/03/nitin-nohria-why-its-so-hard-for-ceos-to-stay-grounded/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a recent observation of new CEOs at Harvard Business School, a striking change was noted. One participant, a newly appointed CEO of a global industrial company, appeared humble and unpretentious. He apologized profusely when he arrived late, which was unusual for someone in his position. Upon leaving the morning class, he disposed of his used coffee cup in a trash can, unlike his peers who left theirs for the staff. He also expressed surprise at staying at the Four Seasons, a hotel he deemed too fancy for him. Five years later, when he attended a reunion, he requested a Four Seasons suite and a detailed list of his preferences. He was once again late, but this time he offered no apology. This change in behavior indicates a loss of grounding, a peril that comes with the job.\n\nThe accommodations CEOs receive, while solving real problems, can collectively distort a leader’s sense of normalcy and alter their understanding of the lives of those they employ and serve. CEOs face relentless demands on their time, often working 62.5 hours a week, including weekends and vacation days. The emotional toll of projecting confidence under pressure and reassuring employees during crises can also justify special treatment.\n\nThis shift in perception can be attributed to what Rakesh Khurana calls \"structurally induced narcissism.\" Even leaders without narcissistic traits can succumb to this phenomenon, as the adulation, constant attention, and deference surrounding a CEO can make such tendencies nearly inevitable. From the day a CEO takes the office, symbols of importance accumulate, and invitations from heads of state, along with personalized gestures, reinforce this shift.\n\nWhile some special treatment is essential for the safety of CEOs, such as armed bodyguards and private transportation, it can easily become expected and normalized. Boards and senior colleagues should periodically review which accommodations still serve a purpose and question those that do not. The loss of grounding is a risk that comes with the job, but it can be mitigated through conscious effort and periodic reassessment.",
  "summary": "Do you apologize when you're late? The perks and deference that make a CEOs job easier risk disconnecting them from other peoples' lives.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}