Essence of Management
Feb 27, 2012

New CEOs need to get their focal distance right: not too focused on implementation (that is staff work) and not too policy-only (this is board work). Experienced CEOs should reflect periodically on whether they have drifted, or been pushed, too far one way or the other. Here are 10 things that should occupy almost all your time as a CEO. How well you do these should also be the core of your performance appraisal by the board!
1. translate strategic direction from the board into 2, 5 and 10 year goals to be achieved
2. work with staff to identify actions, programs, initiatives to accomplish those goals
3. know your operations: who does what exactly and how is that central to goal achievement?
4. determine if your governance is helping; fix it if not.
5. facilitate consensus building, not just head nodding at both board and staff levels
6. develop your organization's capacity to execute and implement
7. determine needed competencies and secure them for the organization
8. identify and support individuals critical to organizational success
9. identify and look for pivot points, markers of significant change, in internal and external environments
10. analyze organizational position and adjust strategic direction as these environments change.