Becoming a Ceo

Becoming a CEO. part Three. 6 tips to becoming a great one in emerging markets!

March 04, 2013

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Having had the opportunity to be a CEO for the last 15 years of different for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, I thought I would share with you the most important lessons that I have learned from all my failures and successes:

1. Your prime responsibility

Your No. 1 job everyday is to be looking for who can replace you in your job. Searching for talent, nurturing and developing talent should occupy most of your time. It’s only through finding that person who is better than you that will lead to your promotion and/or recognition as a “star” within and outside the organization. There is no better corporate reputation than a manager that nurtures and develops talent.

2. Be the Chief Strategy Officer

Take charge of the direction and long term goals of your organization. Develop the ability to see the future, to think 4 steps ahead of your competition. Be a chess grandmaster. Make sure that you and the rest of the organization become obsessed with the “One Thing” that will make your company untouchable. Make it your business to be a ruthless executioner. It’s about competitive leadership, not competitive advantage.

3. Your customers are important but not the most important

Focus on your customers, ensure that you give them the product that they need, keep your promises to them, but don’t bend over backwards. Be even prepared to drop customers if they don’t fit with your values, vision or they might even be the wrong partner long term. You are the symbol of your company’s culture. Make sure you champion it always, even if it means walking away from a deal.

4. Develop partnerships & relationships

The world is smaller now and will get smaller still. Your own competitive advantage is how many partnerships you form on a global scale. These relationships will help guide and shape you to become a...