It takes a long time to become a CEO.CEOs work their way through the ranks and rise to the top thanks to a combination of hard work, perseverance, and traits and qualities that make them a top-notch business leader.Once you achieve your goal of becoming a CEO, you must keep improving to maintain your perch at the top.
Step 1: Take charge and embrace your role.
The CEO of a company isn't necessarily the founder or the owner of the company.The CEO's job is to run the company by overseeing financial decisions, resolving imbalances, and keeping things on track for more profitability each and every year.A great CEO is a combination of an ideas person, willing to take risks and think big, and a hands-on person who digs into the details until everything is perfect.
Step 2: A culture is defined by a clear corporate vision.
To be a great CEO, you must be in control of the company's environment and culture.A great leader will make their employees feel like they are part of something bigger and more significant than the rest of the company.Define your corporate culture with a succinct list of values.Everyone in the company should be able to memorize and internalize these values.You could lay out a few core values.Instead of making them generic like "Treat people with respect", be more specific: "Present our financial services to every client in such a way that they feel heard and valued."
Step 3: Don't fear failure, tackle challenges bold.
People who try, fail, adjust, and try again are CEOs.People who aren't cut out to be CEOs use a fear of failure as an excuse not to try.Being a CEO has high risks and high rewards.Consider other options if you don't thrive with your feet to the fire.If yourWidget 2.0 falls flat with consumers, move forward in developingWidget 3.0 while learning from your mistakes.Accept that you will be replaced if you keep falling short.If you want to become a CEO someday, ask yourself how you have handled the challenges so far.Do you want the ball when the clock is winding down?Do you do your best work in school?Are you able to overcome failures?
Step 4: You should lead the company on a new course when you know it is necessary.
Your job as a CEO is to run the entire business.You are the one with the bird's-eye view who can see the whole pattern of the company as it changes over time.Don't hesitate to act when necessary.Many people will be impacted by the closing of a factory or relocation of operations.Accept that you must do what is best for the entire company, even though you should be sympathetic.To communicate your plans and explain your decisions to your workers, use what you can see and know from your unique perspective.They'll be able to help you realize your vision if they know what you want the company to be.
Step 5: Stay connected to the company by talking and listening to workers.
You don't get to sit in your office and let your subordinates deal with everything but the most important decisions as CEO.An effective CEO is always in the thick of things: visiting every department, assisting with any task they are qualified to assist with, speaking to employees, and listening to their feedback.Asking workers what they need, encouraging suggestions for change and improvement, and making it clear that you take the employees seriously are some of the things you can do to welcome everyone's input.Keep in mind that you are the final authority.Provide avenues for anonymous feedback, but also give opportunities for employees to come in and talk to you directly.
Step 6: People want to follow you if you show respect.
A good leader is someone who other people want to follow.Employees want someone they can trust and respect.Treat others the way you want to be treated, and stick to your principles.If you insist that inappropriate behavior won't be accepted, follow through and refuse to tolerate it.Listen to what other people have to say.
Step 7: Accept mistakes, but set high expectations.
As long as they are good enough at their jobs, the company will let them keep trying until they make it.Encourage risk-taking and personal judgement calls.If something is not a good fit for the business, you have the last word.You must be willing to trust your people to do their jobs if you want to be the CEO.Make sure you have the right people in the correct roles and give them the space to support the company.People who learn from mistakes are in the right jobs.
Step 8: Don't ignore criticism and develop a thick skin.
You will be a target for criticism from both inside and outside of your business as a CEO.Employees, board members, shareholders, analysts, and competitors will all be critical of you.To be successful, you have to be able to ignore criticisms without ignoring the truth.Are you able to set aside any doubts about your ability to be a leader if someone criticizes you for being too inflexible?Are you self-assured enough to re-examine your strategies as needed?
Step 9: Don't become distant from day-to-day operations when you delegate tasks.
The CEO needs to trust his lieutenants and workers to fulfill his vision.You need to stay up-to-date with the operations of your company.Don't fall behind the curve, no matter what business you're in, technologies, markets, consumers, and competitors can change rapidly.Don't lose sight of how things are being done if you delegate tasks and authority.Stay informed and involved so that you can make changes when necessary.It is not your job as CEO to design the company's website, but you should remain aware of consumer preferences and your competition to guide changes and improvements.
Step 10: Draw on the experience of working up the ladder.
After many years in the same industry or company, most CEOs attain their position.Don't forget your roots once you reach the top.All that you know about your business can be used to run it more efficiently.You can use your experience to recognize differences between written policy and practical ground rules, utilize connections who can give you insight into places you're no longer closely connected to, and anticipate the attitudes and beliefs of lower-level employees.
Step 11: Show your curiosity and ask the standard questions.
A good CEO wants to know why things are the way they are.If you ever hear the phrase "that's the way things are done around here", your reply should always be "Why?"Stay curious about people as well.Ask them about their goals, what they need, and so on.A good CEO can read people.
Step 12: You should keep improving and earning your position.
Your business is the future of the company if you become a CEO.You have to be able to see around the next corner and guess what the future will hold.There are plenty of qualified replacements who are ready to take over if you become careless.Don't forget to think about your company's place in the business world at large.Can you stay king of the hill?How can you get the other guy out of the top spot?