As the leader in any organization, the Chief Executive Officer holds an exceptionally visible position of power and influence.
The CEO’s job includes setting the mission, visions, and goals, motivating the executive team, collaborating with stakeholders, representing the company and its values, and developing a solid work-life balance.
How does a board find someone who can execute these tasks flawlessly?
As it turns out, the board can’t because perfection doesn’t exist. It isn’t even preferable. Instead, hiring boards should consider these five characteristics.
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Education and Experience
Many boards tend to seek out leaders with degrees from prestigious universities. There is little correlation between the stamp on a sheepskin and the recipient’s ability to lead an organization.
What does matter, however, is the CEO’s willingness to learn and apply their knowledge and previous skills to help to make decisions.
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Personal Characteristics
Many people identify extroverts as the best CEOs because they are charismatic leaders. In reality, introverts perform better in this role, quickly meeting or exceeding their goals.
While confidence may land a candidate a CEO position, it does not affect job performance.
CEOs are willing to confront others when necessary. They don’t hide from challenges; they meet them head-on. Those who excel in their roles focus on meeting their goals – and winning.
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Best CEO Decision-Making Habits
CEOs who can strategize and make decisions quickly excel over those who do not.
The reason is simple: executive-level leadership requires decisiveness. CEOs must make decisions confidently, even when there’s little time to respond to developing situations. Making a mistake is preferable to making no decision at all.
Those surrounding the CEO prefer consistent and immediate decision-making to uncertain delays.
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Getting Buy-In from Others
Those in the top position in a company seek feedback and gather diverse viewpoints. These viewpoints may shape the CEO’s decision, but the decision is based on facts rather than popular opinion.
Top CEOs prefer to hire people with the skills they may be lacking; these employees often become trusted advisors.
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Strategy-Building Skills
Not everyone can see the big picture, but that’s what the CEO does. This role requires eagle-eye acuity for envisioning how all the parts work together. Those who work with CEOs often describe them as:
- proactive proponents of change for the right reasons
- committed to thinking long-term
- trustworthy individuals who follow-through
- positive and predictable
- makers of bold moves
Not everyone has the skills and mindset to be a CEO. To be the best at the top position in any company requires a unique set of characteristics. As it turns out, no one thing defines a successful CEO. The most successful, and ultimately the best CEOs, are a combination of everything.
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