Billy's Fifty-First Law: Know your role as CEO

This is just a short blog entry, and it comes from a client who asked me to help him work on his 'job description' as the company CEO.  Here is what I came up with, in sufficiently generic terms that I can share it with you.  See if this works for you, and comment if you would like to add to it.

The purpose of the CEO is to

·       Set the overall direction of the enterprise.

·       Ensure the different business of the enterprise are acting in a coordinated and integrated manner.

·       Provide leadership, especially with respect to honouring the mission, vision & values of the enterprise.

·       Understand and emphasise the priority areas of the business, and lend his or her weight to that area.

·       Ensure the continuity of the enterprise from a marketing, human resources and financial perspective.

·       Provide regular operational planning, and periodic strategic planning to re-set the course of the enterprise.

·       Be fully aware of the changes in industry, economic, social and market changes that affect the enterprise and its stakeholders.

·       To build people…especially the next generation of leaders in his or her enterprise.

·       To, on leaving the organization, leave the enterprise stronger than it was before.

·       Be fully aware of the changes in industry, economic, social and market changes that affect the enterprise and its stakeholders

·       To build people…especially the next generation of leaders in his or her enterprise.

·       To, on leaving the organization, leave the enterprise stronger than it was before.

 That is what I have come up with.  I am sure that there are a myriad of other important roles, not to mention personal characteristics that drive business success.