“You don’t need to be a genius or a visionary, or even a college graduate for that matter, to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.”
– Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell
The growth of a company depends on various aspects, but you will be surprised to know that as much as 45% of a business’s performance can be attributed to the Chief Executive Officer, or CEO’s leadership. (McKinsey & Company: CEO Excellence)
There are numerous real-life examples where a CEO saved a crumbling company and turned it into a corporate success. But have you ever wondered what these magical qualities are in these individuals that affect their firms in such an extraordinary way? There are certain common skills that every great CEO possesses.
In this post, we will explore these skills and understand how they affect a company. So, continue reading to learn about the top leadership qualities every CEO should cultivate!
Effective Communication
Great leaders know how to express themselves and their thoughts clearly. Teams understand a leader’s message faster when a leader is expressive and uses straightforward words. Since communication should be two-way in order for it to be effective, a CEO must also be patient enough to listen carefully to others.
Strong communication is the foundation of trust in a company. CEO coaching trains aspiring leaders to speak clearly and with confidence. Unambiguous instructions reduce confusion and mistakes. Regardless of the situation, good leaders stay calm when speaking, even under pressure.
Honest feedback is necessary for a team to grow. Open discussions create better teamwork, and hence leaders ought to adjust their messages for different people, depending on their needs. Effective communication keeps everyone fixated on goals. Therefore, appointing a well-trained CEO is important to a positive work culture.
DO YOU KNOW? In a survey, 53% of CEOs named growth their top priority.
Decision-Making Skills
The fortunes of a company depend on some crucial decisions. Good decisions keep a company moving forward. Even under extreme situations, great CEOs make smart choices. Leaders must think before they act to avoid taking any big missteps. Weighing risks is another important skill for a CEO, he needs to stay calm when choosing a course of action.
Confident leaders trust their judgment and stand strong on their choices. Learning from past choices improves future decisions and helps make quick but careful decisions. Good planning is important to navigate through challenges and yield better results. So, it can be said that smart decision-making builds a thriving business.
Team Leadership
Being a reliable leader is extremely important for a CEO, he should know how to guide his team. A CEO must possess the following qualities:
A strong leader builds trust and respect.
Setting clear and achievable goals helps teams stay focused.
These qualities help create a positive workplace, which is necessary for a business to flourish.
Problem-Solving Abilities
Every business experiences challenges and setbacks, but to deal with them smartly, a leader has to stay relaxed under pressure and have excellent problem-solving abilities. Coherent thinking helps solve problems faster. CEOs should weigh all the options before finalizing anything, and must think out of the box for better results.
He also needs to consider the team’s opinion, as their input provides a bigger picture and can help find the best solution. Learn from the past to avoid similar errors in future decisions.
FUN FACT According to a journal of leadership and organizational studies paper, CEOs have a strong background in sports, noting that sports participants exhibit leadership traits early on.
Adaptability and Vision
Business trends never remain the same and bring a variety of challenges with them, but a strong leader stays ready to tackle them all. He must think ahead to avoid problems and have a clear vision when planning for the future of the company.
Even under pressure, adaptable leaders make smart decisions and view the changes as new opportunities to learn more. Additionally, he should also remain flexible when dealing with teams to work better. Adaptability and vision are necessary for long-term success.
Learn More About the Top Leadership Skills
Having strong leadership skills is a must for CEOs to strategically guide their teams through all the ups and downs coming their way. As we discussed above, a CEO needs to be well-equipped with good communication, decision-making, team leadership, and problem-solving skills. He must also have great vision and remain flexible when dealing with different types of people and situations.
A prominent leader stays focused on growth. Developing these skills makes a CEO more efficient. So, if you are looking for more tips and ideas? We’ve got you covered. Check out some of our other posts now!
