4 Things Top CEOs Do Differently
As a CEO, you know that you didn’t reach the top by cutting corners. Hard graft, education, guts and determination all helped you to climb the corporate ladder. But there are 4 traits that make top CEOs truly great, and here, we’ll run through them one by one.
Top CEOs Are Consistent
Every successful CEO is aware of the importance of consistency in achieving his or her goals, whether they are professional or personal. “We are what we consistently do”, as the great philosopher Aristotle once said.
Thomas Edison, the man responsible for the invention of the lightbulb, is an illustration of a strong leader who remained committed to his mission. Before having his Eureka moment in 1879, Edison experimented with more than 2,000 different types of material and improved his invention over 10,000 times. Many people would have simply given up, shrugged their shoulders, and declared defeat. Of course, Edison did none of these things and was confident that his perseverance would finally pay off, stating, “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Top CEOs are simply “chipping away at their own personal lightbulb” until they achieve their notion of success, just like Edson did.
The takeaway is to consistently put in the effort and focus on projects that will help you to reach your objectives if you want to join the ranks of great CEOs and leaders. You will eventually arrive at your desired destination if you move that needle every day, every week, every month and every year.
Top CEOs Adapt Well to Change
Top executives are aware that they must change in order to keep up with the ever-evolving business environment, if they want their companies to remain profitable and relevant.
General Mills, a food corporation with headquarters in the United States and inventor of the well-known cereal brand Lucky Charms, is just one example of a business that continuously adapts to meet the needs of its customers. (For those of you who don’t know, Lucky Charms are a sweet breakfast cereal packed with vibrant marshmallow shapes; not for the faint of heart.)
Stephen Sanger, then-CEO of General Mills, pledged to create a healthier version of Lucky Charms in 2004. In recognition of the recent generation of health-conscious consumers, he proclaimed that the cereal will exclusively contain nutritious wholegrains. Sanger made the hasty decision to modify his product to assure its ongoing success after realising the impact that health food trends were having on companies like Twinkies and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.
The Lucky Charm brand was preserved by this change, and it is currently one of the ten most widely consumed cereals in the United States (Despite its brightly coloured marshmallow pieces and 11 grams of sugar per serving).
Top CEOs Select and Nurture The Right Talent
Successful leaders are aware of how crucial it is to select and invest in the right talent. Retaining employees is one of the major issues facing HR directors in the UK, especially among the restless millennial generation.
Top leaders understand the importance of maintaining staff engagement and passion for their business, and they therefore offer the best opportunities for personal and professional development. In addition to making time for their team members, successful leaders also communicate with them, whether it be through a 15-minute phone call, a personalised email, or a newsletter.
With a 93% employee approval rating, Sephora CEO Calvin McDonald was recently chosen as Glassdoors’ top-rated CEO. McDonald sponsors a morning networking event for new hires and believes in an open, approachable style of leadership (he has met every single new employee since taking the reins in 2014). Every Friday, he also creates a personal blog post that he shares with the entire company, commemorating both the significant and minor achievements of the previous working week. He thinks that by communicating frequently, he keeps his staff members interested, active, and feeling like they are a part of something important.
Top CEOs are Constantly Learning
The most successful CEOs are always learning new things, pushing themselves, and taking risks.
Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, thinks that continuing to learn is essential for success. Whether you’re a CEO, a recent graduate, or an entry-level employee, Nooyi stresses that you can’t know it all. Admitting this is not a sign of weakness. The most effective leaders are lifelong learners.
Top CEOs and leaders support peer-to-peer learning as well. CEOs need that safe space to share their ideas and seek assistance because it can be lonely at the top. Bill Gates attributes a portion of his success to investor and businessman Warren Buffett, saying that Buffett taught him how to handle challenging circumstances and to think strategically. Even though Bill Gates is one of the most well-known CEOs in the world, he recognised the value of receiving guidance from a dependable mentor.
The most exceptional leaders do all of the aforementioned and more. They succeed simply because they continually invest in their people and themselves, resulting in dynamic, successful, and inclusive organisations.