Your best teachers are people in the same position as you: other CEOs. Peer groups are an excellent, cost-effective path to learning lessons the easy way. Here are the benefits of peer groups, the reasons CEOs don’t join them and what you should look for when you do.
“Pick an enemy!” says Jeff Rodek of Hyperion Solutions. He’s right: nothing galvanizes your team like a common foe. Here are some steps you can take to boost company performance and build solidarity at the same time.
Semiconductor equipment manufacturer Mattson Technology (MTSN) was in deep trouble, and replaced its founder with a new CEO, Dave Dutton. Read how Dave built a new leadership culture amidst the transition chaos and set a more prosperous course for the company.
Ola Robert Hassan, Founder of Ola’s Exotic Coffee and Tea, discovered that people who feel like owners tend to work harder for less. He has used this to great advantage in building a motivated team. But there are risks involved in giving the wrong candidates too much equity too early.
Stepping down to a lower level and actually doing the job is not glamorous, nor is it the best use of a top executive’s time over the long haul. But Jim MacDonald, CEO of RF MacDonald Co., found out how incredibly powerful this tactic can be.
Consultants of various kinds can be of great benefit to a business. Pamela Kan, President of Bishop Wisecarver, had a consultant save her neck then outstay their welcome. Knowing when to let consultants go is as crucial as knowing when to bring them on board.
Since all business dealings are communications of one kind or another, skills in that area become doubly important. Chuck Smith, CEO of SBC West, demonstrates key elements of the art of communication.
Leaders at all levels in growing companies need to make every minute count. Meetings can be a great way to make decisions and draw upon the collective wisdom of a team. They can also be colossal time wasters if run poorly. If you are concerned that your company’s meetings are not as productive as they should be, try to adopt this bill of rights for meetings. Feel free to adapt it to the needs of your organization.
Where there’s pain, there’s opportunity. Tom Engdahl, CEO of Work Force Logic, identified the pain points and found a way to make life easier. If your service or product makes your customer’s life easier, you’ve got an edge.
The most solid rule in business is still the Golden Rule: if you treat others as if they were special, they’ll remember you when the time comes. Here are some simple ways you can accomplish this feat.
Robert Sher is founding principal of CEO to CEO, a consulting firm of former chief executives that improves the leadership infrastructure of midsized companies seeking to accelerate their performance. He was chief executive of Bentley Publishing Group from 1984 to 2006 and steered the firm to become a leading player in its industry (decorative art publishing).