Are You Comfortable With Risk and Calm Under Pressure?
Everyone thinks they're CEO material, but the truth is, only a small percentage of people have what it takes to do it successfully. CEOs need to delegate effectively, inspire others, and be financially savvy. Here are 10 signs that you're CEO material and 10 that you're not.
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1. You're a Strategic Thinker
Every CEO must look beyond the day-to-day operations of their responsibilities to see the bigger picture for their company. You need to have vision and predict how your decisions will play out years down the road.
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2. You Inspire Others
The best CEOs know how to bring out the best in others. If your peers and colleagues look to your guidance, encouragement, and motivation, then it's a sign that you have the leadership required to be a strong CEO.
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3. You're Comfortable with Risk
CEOs are forced to make tough decisions every quarter, and often without having all the data and information to support a decision. If you're comfortable with evaluating risks, weighing potential rewards and returns, and accepting some level of uncertainty, you're on the path to becoming an excellent CEO.
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4. You Delegate Effectively
The most effective CEOs recognize that they can't do everything themselves. CEOs excel at empowering others by trusting them with important responsibilities. Delegation is the art of multiplying positive results through others.
5. You Remain Calm Under Pressure
Every company will experience challenges and crises. CEOs must remain calm and project resiliency even when things feel dire. If you naturally stay composed when chaos is everywhere, you're displaying one of the most important qualities of a CEO.
6. You're Financially Savvy
A CEO doesn't need to be an accountant, but they must have more than a basic understanding of money and finances. If you have a strong grasp on budgets, cash flow, and profit margins, you're ahead of the curve.
7. You Value Learning
CEOs are lifelong learners who are always looking for ways to improve themselves. If you actively seek out knowledge, new skills, and try to understand new business models, you're demonstrating a key trait shared by most CEOs.
8. You Can Make Tough Decisions
Executive leadership is constantly making tough and unpopular decisions. You need to be willing to evaluate information, consult stakeholders, and act decisively. Ultimately, you need to be able to make uncomfortable choices.
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9. You're Resilient
Being able to overcome setbacks signals that you're CEO material. You need to bounce back from failures, accept defeat, learn lessons, and keep moving your company forward.
10. You Operate With Integrity
CEOs lead by example, and must operate with the utmost integrity. The trick is to align your words with action, and always keep your company's values and mission front of my mind.
1. You Avoid Responsibility
CEOs always have their plate full of responsibilities. If you shy away from accountability, blame others, or avoid taking on responsibility, you're not ready to be an executive, let alone a CEO.
2. You Refuse to Delegate
If you feel the constant need to do everything yourself or you micromanage every person around or beneath you, you are a long way from being CEO material. CEOs must trust others to execute tasks.
3. You Resist Change
Business is dynamic, and CEOs need to roll with the punches. If you struggle with adapting to new challenges and situations, or generally resist change, then you need to improve these skills to get on the CEO track.
4. You Can't Handle Stress
You can damage your credibility as a CEO if you lose control of your emotions under pressure. CEOs are monitored closely, and emotional outbursts during stressful times can break confidence in your leadership abilities.
5. You Lack Financial Acumen
CEOs don't have to be the sharpest financial minds at their company, but they still need a thorough understanding of economics and their company's finances. You can't be a serious CEO candidate until you can wrap your head around finances.
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6. You're Indecisive
An inability or unwillingness to make tough decisions means that you don't have the right personality to be a CEO. If you are indecisive, you need to work on this skill before pursuing any executive position.
7. You Crave Approval
CEOs need to live above the approval of others when it comes to making decisions. It's natural to want to be liked, but CEOs need to focus their leadership on doing what's best for the company.
8. You Lack Vision
CEOs can't just sit at a desk all day. They need to be visionary leaders who are constantly executing their vision. If you only focus on immediate tasks, you're missing a vital CEO trait. Without the vision of a CEO, your employees will lack direction, and opportunities will be missed. A CEO without forward thinking is more of a manager than a corporate leader.
9. You Easily Quit
CEOs will experience daily challenges and setbacks, and each one requires you to step up your leadership. If you easily give up when the going gets tough, you're not ready to work at the highest corporate level. CEOs must be resilient and persevere even when it feels insurmountable.
10. You Lack Integrity
Integrity is the driving force of every CEO and company. If you don't operate with a high level of integrity, then you aren't quite where you need to be. A CEO can't cut corners or prioritize their personal gains over the well-being of their company and employees. Integrity is a non-negotiable trait for any CEO.
