101: Starting As CEO
Whether you have just been promoted to take the top seat or are moving into a new organization as CEO, it's an important role. And your actions during those first few months will be crucial — that is, closely watched. Here are three things to keep in mind as you occupy your new office:
You're not really the “boss.” Not in the way you might think, anyway. A George Bradt article at Forbes.com presents the importance of a CEO stepping back for a clear overview. “The CEO must learn to manage organizational context rather than focus on daily operations, recognize that his position does not confer the right to lead, nor does it guarantee the organization's loyalty, and not get totally absorbed in the role,” he writes.
You might not know what is actually going on. It seems disturbing. But the information on the organization that you're getting is likely distorted, depending on who is telling it, and their agenda. “Reliable information is surprisingly scarce,” writes Robert Hargrove in his blog, My First 100 Days. His advice? “Scan the horizon for sources of information that wouldn't otherwise come across your desk … Hold court in the company cafeteria … Seek out external gurus. Use Google.”
Consult, early and often. Talk to your team before you make decisions, even if it means taking more time to make those decisions. Roger Martin at Harvard Business Review promotes the importance of a team feeling like a team. Sometimes, you'll have to make decisions without them due to your unique perspective. “You can get away with these decisions without destroying the team dynamics, but only if you save it for very rare occasions,” he writes.
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101: Leadership & Social Media
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