What does it take to be a CEO?
“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible” - Saint Francis
How does one become a CEO? How do you think a CEO approaches leadership? What do you think is important to a CEO?
This week on Learning to Lead Live we kicked off a new series where we will evaluate the C-Suite. What does it take to get to this level, and how can you succeed once you get there? We begin the series by evaluating what it takes to be a CEO, including how the psychology of a CEO and how they make decisions. Here are a few key takeaways:
When you ask a CEO what is the one thing that made them successful, most answer FOCUS! Their focus is on three pillars: Culture, People & Numbers. Focusing exclusively on these provides clarity and informs their success.
“You win some, you lose some, but you keep on fighting….and if you need a friend - get a dog” - Gordon Gekko from the film Wall Street
It can be lonely at the top as a CEO. They steer the ship, make decisions, and are accountable. We can start preparing for this responsibility no matter our level or title by surrounding ourselves with a strong personal board of directors for support.
The best CEO’s have the ability to focus on the important areas of business by muting all other distractions and refusing to waste their time on things that have only temporary or low meaning. Part of this focus is making decisions with intent: those that matter, those that have positive effects on Culture, People & Numbers, that propel the organization forward.
For the CEO, the concept of self-knowledge takes on a special significance. They cannot hope to understand and lead others until they do the work of understanding themselves. The most effective areas of focus to gain self-knowledge are:
Gain Self Awareness; the foundation of self-management and decision making
Examine thoughts, feelings, and self-image with the goal of identifying what makes you tick
Understand motivations
Determine what is deserving of their focus
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
CEOs know that to lead others they must understand people (how they tick, how they process information, and what motivates them and why). CEO's build on self-knowledge to understand others by exploring: thought (intellectual side), Emotions (emotions, reactions, and triggers), and Self-image (perception of self).
For a CEO to evolve, the first step towards taking control of the life they want as they recognize that to break through to the next level, they first need to grow & evolve within themselves.
CLOSING:
The more a CEO works on themselves, understanding the internal landscape of their own psychology, the better a leader they will be. This allows them to understand those around them better, and motivate and engage them to take action toward success. They must have laser focus & precise in tuning out noise and distractions. This takes discipline, awareness & intention.
There are no easy answers, but there are quick wins for those with the foresight and insight to do the hard work of self-assessment to grow.
Peter Drucker advises “Whenever you make a decision or take any action write down what you expect will happen. Then, 9 to 12 months later compare the actual results (what actually happened) with your expectations that you wrote down.”
Learning to Lead Live
Learning to Lead will be back Live on Saturday, November 5 @ 9:30 am PT as we continue our C-Suite series. Reminders and recaps are shared here so be sure to subscribe and consider sharing with someone who might benefit from our content.
Resources
Newsletters I read daily to stay informed and get inspired: The Hustle, Morning Brew, Seth Godin’s Blog, Atlas Obscura, Oprah Daily, Newsette
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