It’s a 24/7 role, perhaps a way of life, and it’s certainly not for everyone. So, what are those special characteristics which, when combined, create the blueprint for a successful leader?
Connection
A CEO doesn’t just attend networking events, their entire life is one long networking event. Whether they are connecting with their staff, their customers, their suppliers or the world in general, they are consistently ‘on’. Opportunities are always out there and can be lost if you’re looking inwards. This doesn’t mean a CEO must be on a constant treadmill of ‘meeting and greeting’ – far from it, they’d never get anything done – but they’re always open to the possibility of connection.
Vision
A leader inspires and motivates others to take a journey. It’s not just about ambition within the confines of their own company or industry but also curiosity about and an understanding of how they fit into the wider world. Good CEOs will always surround themselves with an outstanding team. They will question everything they are told, dissect it down to the nub of the issue and see if they can rearrange what they have learned for the benefit of the company’s future.
Passion
If you don’t care, you don’t achieve. CEOs must be the beating heart of the company and, as such, no-one is more invested in making it succeed. It’s not enough to care, they must transmit their enthusiasm for the business to their management team, in the expectation that this cascades down throughout the workforce. On the other hand, passion for their cause often means CEOs tend to speak their mind, whether what they are saying is popular not.
Decisiveness
A good CEO will tell you that decisions should never be made in a vacuum and that they listen and take advice from talented colleagues every day. That said, the leader of the company is never going to be led by the nose. They’re always willing to make that final call and, when called upon, the really tough decisions.
