What makes the difference between a good CEO and a great CEO? What does he or she have to do on a daily basis to build maximum stakeholder value?
What does a CEO have to do differently to create innovation? Here are seven steps (in no particular order) of CEO roles that can answer these questions:
1. Set the leadership direction with mission and vision.
– Be most innovative and competitive.
– Lead the planning process to focus on the now, short term and long term.
– Ensure a focus on customer satisfaction in all decision making.
2. Act as chief communicator.
– Keep important goals, facts, and challenges in front of people, along with the mission, vision and company objectives, to gain alignment, under- standing, involvement and commitment to action.
– Promote effective and continuous two-way communication among all people in the company so everyone has the information needed to fully contribute to the mission and vision.
3. Lead the Leadership/Executive Management Team.
– Facilitate effective and creative interaction of the EMT as a model for all teams
– Continuously build the capacity of the team to work effectively together to lead the company to higher levels of growth; ensure that all members are “team players” and support each other.
4. Identify and support the culture.
– Set the tone and ensure retention of the corporate values by setting an example and reinforcing the values in others.
– Instill an “entrepreneurial spirit” in everyone along with accountability for results.
– Maintain a healthy financial picture that balances short and long-term needs.
– Use appropriate methods of measurement and control to ensure follow-through and accountability at all levels.
– Ensure that all hiring practices focus on finding the “right” people with the best talents and fit with the culture.
5. Build the culture.
– Set the tone and ensure retention of the corporate values by setting an example and reinforcing the values in others.
– Instill an “entrepreneurial spirit” in everyone along with accountability for results.
6. Design structure, methodologies and processes that fit strategy and culture.
– Promote “connectivity” in all departments.
– Implement re-structuring program when necessary, based on strategic needs, and ensure that new role definitions are clear and the change process is effectively managed.
7. Encourage and engage in continuous learning.
– Search for and identify new ways to improve the company and to cultivate innovation.
– Proactively ask for feedback and use it to make positive change.
Thanks for reading. I hope you found the article interesting. Are there other steps than these 7? I’d really welcome your feedback on this article or let me know if there is a new topic that you would like to discuss.
To Greater Success,
Chris Bartholomew
Founder & CEO
4X Inc
Recent Comments