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Leadership lessons
Written by: Renée LeMoine
Photo by: Vojtìch Vlk
"CEOs are normal men and women,
not super humans able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.
When we look at CEOs and other top executives from a social humanistic
perspective it is easy to find their faults.
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And it is human nature to blame others for problems, so top management
is often the target. Yet keep in mind, that if you were in the
CEO's shoes you might do the very thing that you criticize him/her
for doing. You lack information to paint the full picture he sees
when making his/her final decisions.
Yet, it is useful to watch behaviors of CEOS and top executives
to learn from their winning and losing reactions. No one is perfect,
and every situation changes the outcome, so take the opportunity
to learn from your boss's mistakes. And in a few cases, there are
bad seeds that deserve observation and reflection for how not to
do what he or she did. The higher the corporate ladder you climb,
the more people will analyze, judge, and criticize you. What's
good and what's bad often depends on whose judging and at what
time. Use this wisdom to your advantage.
The media can make, enhance, or break a reputation. Therefore
CEOs often avoid the press for fear of saying something that will
get distorted. Instead, build strong relationships with the press,
and take every opportunity to educate them about you, your team,
and your company's positive qualities. Be proactive and immediate
about reacting to negative press coverage.
Generate your own internal public relations strategy. Arrogant
CEOs who believe themselves untouchable often face dissention when
they need support to push through big decisions. Respect, trust,
and support the executive team, thus giving them motivation for
building across and down the company ranks.
Avoiding investors and leaving them in the dark is a quick exit
strategy for any CEO. If you want to stay around longer than your
former CEO, seek out ways to build personal relationships with
the company's investors. Sports tournaments and gala events are
fine opportunities for sharing casual conversation in a relaxed
atmosphere.
Article prepared by Renée LeMoine, Executive
Director, LeMoine & Associates
We welcome feedback and suggestions for
management topics which are of interest to you. Please submit your
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