LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: What Does Your CEO Want?

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As an executive, you need to develop what is called “executive presence.” This article provides an extensive list which will help you gain and maintain executive presence… Executive presence is “The ability to be a credible and convincing force, a person who is perceived to be a strong leader over the long haul.”

First and foremost, a CEO wants you to bring solutions to the table not problems! When you were selected for a senior leadership role in your organization it was for the express purpose to lead and run your area of responsibility. This does not simply imply that you make sure the day-to-day department/division is properly managed. It means that you think and act strategically to both sustain and grow the people and overall business success of the organization.

As part of an executive staff it is easy to get caught up minutia and lose sight of the big picture responsibilities required at the executive level. With that said, the following list describes what a CEO wants and needs from each member of the senior executive staff so he or she can drive organizational success:

1. An executive who – is of high personal standards and values
2. An executive who – is results oriented
3. An executive who – is customer-centric (both externally and internally)
4. An executive who – thinks like a CEO
5. An executive who – is truly a team player
6. An executive who – can clearly communicate
7. An executive who – is 100% loyal to the success of the organization and the CEO
8. An executive who – possesses strong business acumen
9. An executive who – possesses strong interpersonal skills
10. An executive who – is a strategic thinker
11. An executive who – hires, develops and retains the best possible talent
12. An executive who – continually works to achieve success for the organization
13. An executive who – is trustworthy
14. An executive who – maintains confidentiality
15. An executive who – is energetic
16. An executive who – is driven
17. An executive who – is personally likable
18. An executive who – makes things happen
19. An executive who – can handle transformational change
20. An executive who – continually displays executive presence
21. An executive who – is credible
22. An executive who – continually drives cost reduction
23. An executive who – can produce those things that affect the bottom line
24. An executive who – can produce in the tough times as well as the good times
25. An executive who – is innovative both for the present and the future
26. An executive who – hunts around for what’s not being done and gets it done
27. An executive who – is innovative and on the leading edge of their specific discipline
28. An executive who – possesses the analytical skills to measure real performance
29. An executive who – can feel the same pressure and can walk in the shoes of the CEO
30. An executive who – is a good listener
31. An executive who – can effectively communicate both orally and in writing
32. An executive who – can clearly identify issues, determine options and recommend actions
33. An executive who – works well with other executives
34. An executive who – can stay calm and manage well in a crisis
35. An executive who – possess an extraordinary amount of common sense
36. An executive who – maintains a solid perspective of the business environment
37. An executive who – is a quiet voice of reason
38. An executive who – is highly visible and presentable both inside and outside the company
39. An executive who – has strong influencing skills
40. An executive who – is aggressive but not overbearing
41. An executive who – consistently does the right things
42. An executive who – recognizes or foresee issues and opportunities and can take the appropriate action
43. An executive who – can solve problems for the long term not just provide band aids
44. An executive who – is accountable not only to CEO, but to each member of the executive team
45. An executive who – relies on each member of the executive team for input and feedback
46. An executive who – isn’t afraid to “not know” and is willing to raise a hand and ask for or seek help and expertise
47. An executive who – doesn’t settle for second best
48. An executive who – pursues perfection and refuses to tolerate poor performance
49. An executive who – communicates the vision and articulates that vision throughout the organization so that each and every employee understands the impact they have
50. An executive who – is committed to growing people
51. An executive who – sets aside ego and has the self understanding that hiring and growing the best is not a risk to them or their positions
52. An executive who – provides every employee the proper tools, training and expectation levels so that each understands what winning is, and can go home each day feeling successful

This may appear to be an overwhelming list, which is virtually impossible to live up to; however, for today’s executive, both the spoken and unspoken expectations have risen substantially. Executives are judged by more than just results. They are also judged on how they present themselves to others on and off the job. How they perform and are perceived as an executive, are almost as important as the results they attain.

“Mastering the art of executive presence” requires two important breakthroughs. First, a willingness to “assess and understand yourself” and explore the way others may perceive you. Second, the desire to “master your strengths, talents, behaviors and skills,” so they can enhance, alter or confirm those perceptions.

These two major breakthroughs most often require having a strong mentor, a close and honest confidant or an executive coach, all of who are capable of providing you the assessment and feedback required to be more successful in today’s organizational environment.

You may think executive presence is easy to see and hard to define; however, it is not as much of a mystery as you might think. Executive presence is not about fluff or first impressions; it is about the belief or feeling about you, which develops over time, based on other individuals’ experiences with you. When you do the right thing for the right reason, communicate clearly and succinctly, build trust, open up business opportunities and create professional and financial success, you are well on the way toward creating executive presence and being the executive material sought after by a CEO.




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About Ingbretsen Consulting LLC:
Coach and author Roger Ingbretsen is a certified executive coach and organizational developer, providing organizational and career guidance to professionals, managers, supervisors and all individuals looking for "real world" career development and business information. His entrepreneurial approach will help you learn how to plan, lead and succeed in your career. Roger is the creator of the “Leadership Development Coaching Experience©” and author of the personal development reference eBooks, “Plan Your Career Now: The Survival Guide for the American Workplace” and “Master Your Career: Proven Strategies for Career Success©.” To know more and claim dozens of Rogers free articles go to www.ingbretsen.com or call 509 999 7008

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