This short video gives an idea of what it takes to be a leader. The video stresses that it is only the relatively few that possess leadership skills in all areas needed to be a CEO.
They are usually highly motivated, high achievers who are passionate about their job. They are also able to control their egos and allow others to contribute to the company without micromanaging others.
Transcript of the video below:
I would characterize myself as being sort of the accidental CEO. I started my company but really I don’t think in a small company when your pretty much the whole company to start with you’re really much of a CEO. You sort of grow into it.
When my company passed a certain size we eventually had 50 full time employees and another 200 hourly part time employees. It was a big job. Best really when you have to develop your CEO skills. I would characterize myself as being sort of an accidental CEO.
I didn’t know when I started that one of the things I tried to do over and over again was using the skills of a professor and I expected my company to be sort of collegial and would make decisions together. That’s not how it works. The CEO’s role is to make the decisions with the council and with the input of other people. So you really learn on the job, you learn as you go.
Well I needed a job and if you’ve been a college professor your not very good at working for other people. So I think that’s probably the principle reason why I did it. I’m not a terrific employee and I eventually learned how to be a successful CEO.
Well it’s interesting, in large companies you can think of it as being a career path where you start with the company and move up and then once you get to that level you move from company to company where the opportunities open up. There’s really not a career path for the CEO. It really is a long gruelling sort of race and only the relatively few who have all the skills it takes to do it, ultimately get the job or keep it.
Its sort of a combination of people who have great will and personal passion and are high achievers but also are able to control their own egos and recognise that once you become a CEO your really working through everybody else. It’s not what you do its what other people are willing to do for you and for the firm.
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