Be The CEO

If I could share just ONE “Secret to Professional Success” it would be to always think and act like a CEO … regardless of your title.

I have never been a CEO, but I have certainly been mistaken for a company’s CEO or owner several times.

As a manager, I WANT a staff who:

• Think strategically

• Has a company and customer-first mentality

• Can look past their own personal wants and needs

• Sees the big picture

• Understands where the company is heading and has a drive to help get there

In the last 26 years, I’ve worked with dozens of CEOs, especially as a consultant. Each CEO had different strengths, but they ALL play several roles … some roles better than others.

The Navigator The Navigator sets the course for success. They may rely on their management team to actually steer, but they make it clear where the company is heading and track the progress regularly to assure you get there on time.

The Architect The Architect builds the company on a sound, stable economic foundation. Stability is the goal, and that stability is built on numbers. Often their closest relationship is with the CFO.

The Coach The Coach makes the entire team stronger. Their focus is on the staff and corporate culture. They are a visionary, a cheerleader, a mentor and a communicator.

The Personality The Personality is the face of the company. They have a unique ability to stay on message. If there is an interview, they are front-and-center.

The Fortune Teller The Fortune Teller always seems to know what’s next. They are focused on external factors in the industry, the market and the economy and tying it back to success and growth within the company.

The Liaison Most every CEO answers to a Board of Directors. Often, it is the Board who has final say in the direction of the company. The Liaison is the go-between for the management team and the Board. They are a bit of a politician and help to sell big ideas to get them approved.

The Collector Sometimes, the fastest way to grow is to acquire other companies. This has been especially true in the credit union industry for the last few decades. The Collector’s focus is acquisition. They have every competitor prioritized based on who would best benefit the company in an acquisition. I’ve even known some who chart out the age of competitive CEOs so they can time their acquisition communication with the CEO’s retirement.

A successful company needs all these roles filled, but no CEO has ever mastered ALL these roles. The best have some combination of these skills and rely on (better yet, TRUST) their surrounding team to support and fill in the gaps.

Likewise, YOU do not need ALL of these skills. But if you UNDERSTAND each role a CEO plays you will find yourself making smarter corporate decisions. You’ll find yourself getting recognized as a leader. You’ll likely find that you have more autonomy at work. And, ultimately, you’ll be on a faster track to actually BE a CEO.