Are You Ready To Be CEO?

August 26, 2015

This week I asked my followers to tell me what they wanted to read, the topics of discussion they would like me to discuss and what advice would help them most.

Career progression is always up there in the favourites and it’s great to know my followers are ambitious, driven and really want to succeed professionally.

“How do I get to CEO?” I found this question particularly interesting because it’s something I would’ve asked 30 years ago. Just like being an entrepreneur and starting your own business isn’t for everyone, a CEO role isn’t for everyone. It requires a lot of hard work, long hours and dedication but if you want to do it, I’d say go get it. I’m a firm believer that you can do (almost) everything if you put your mind to it and working your way towards CEO is definitely a possibility. If you’re a manager desperate to make that leap, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

The transformation to CEO is huge. As a manager, you are responsible for a certain function, this may vary, but generally your job role is very specific.

This will all change as you make the transition to CEO; you will be going from a functional role to something far more complex and ambiguous. Your job role will encompass several different facets, you now have broad responsibility of the entire organisation and you will need to cultivate a whole new sets of skills because decision making is now your no.1 priority.

A good CEO will need to be involved in every aspect of the business and understand how each function works. Not only this, they need to be able to add some value to those functions. For example, I’m not and never will be a lawyer but of course, we have a lawyer within the team. Even though law is not my forte, I have spent time gaining a basic understanding of what’s required  in that role so I can engage and add value during weekly updates and appraisals.

You’re not just changing roles, you’re making the transition from manager to leader and as a leader, you have a duty to inspire, motivate and encourage everyone in the business – that’s the hardest part of the job!

Think about this carefully; do you feel you have what it takes to be a leader? Do you have enough charisma and gravitas to encourage people to follow you? Are you a people person who can identify opportunities? Do you understand the importance of talent attraction?

If so, you’re on the right track. Remember, a CEO is only as good as the team behind them and encouraging a good business culture is vital.

So if you’re reading this thinking you definitely have what it takes to be CEO of your organisation, what are you waiting for?

You can either take the traditional route and climb the career ladder or just be completely honest and make your aspirations known by setting your goal early on and communicating it with your boss. Showing determination like this is a great attribute and you will be first in line when the time is right.

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