Develop the CEO in you...
The coveted corner office is the dream of many a career persons.
The title of CEO lures many; eludes as many and adorns a few.
Well, instead of debating if becoming a CEO must be a career goal at all, I would rather say, if that's a sort of objective that helps us develop the leader within, it's worth the shot.
Then there are multiple corollary questions that come up in developing oneself to become a CEO.
"Should I stay in a company long enough to become one? Or should I seek it differently?" : There are no straight answers to these questions. A career path is as individual as the person and her circumstances are.
However, having decided to pursue a career a few questions asked and answered help the way:
The company we choose and keep:
As we start and pursue our careers fundamental question always is - "Why am I being hired?" This is about the value a person brings to table today and in future.
"Have talented people stayed in this company for many years?" This clarifies the culture of the company and the opportunities that are available.
"Will the company help me grow?" It's about the jobs, assignments and opportunities that are available to talented individuals to contribute, stretch their abilities and grow.
"Are there enough training and mentoring?" This clarifies about the belief system of the company's top management in investing to develop people and through them the business.
"How soon can one run a business? Is it a kind of fixed program? Or allows individuals to bring new ideas of business to table?" These questions allow us to get answers about the way the company could foster the entrepreneurial spirit within the individuals and help them grow and the business.
What do I bring to the table?:
While all the above questions are what a company can do for you, it's absolutely important to understand, establish for sure and articulate what we can do for the company.
"Are you a consistent performer who delivers? How do you help others? Are you transparent ? and more importantly are you the eternal whiner who takes problems up or the fixer who helps fixing problems of others especially bosses?"
Answers to these questions help us to realize that performance is a habit and not a flash in the pan. And performing alone is not possible or warranted always. There's a team; there are peers and bosses. The ability to collaborate, cocreate and win together is more important than being a gun-slinging cowboy.
A leader leads beyond his job:
As business environment constantly evolves and changes, it's important that an individual has the willingness and the ability to learn always and shed what don't work.
"Are you networked well within the company, the industry and beyond? How do you reach out to community and work with them in learning beyond business?"
These are important questions that can provide means to increase the bandwidth of an individual to develop a 360 degrees view of business, which is fundamental to a leadership role.
The complete person builds a stable career and stabler businesses:
Finally, all work and no home, makes any Jack a dull man; or a Jane jaded.
A well balanced life is very important for a sustained career success.
"Are you there for your family and the significant ones? and "Do you have a circle of friends and a hobby etc.?" are questions that help us develop a self renewal mechanism.
The video below shows Harvard Professor Joseph L Bower, author of Inside Outsiders, a book that articulates the concept of developing leaders from within talks about the above questions in detail.
A career which is an integrated part of anyone's life can not be totally disconnected from life, life mission, and life's purpose. Hence success in life would mean success in career as well.
Most importantly success in career is not measured by the titles or positions including that of a CEO. It is measured of how meaningful we have lived by true to the purpose we define for ourselves and in the process helping others to succeed.
To summarize Life is all about Living - well, with a purpose and meaningfully, Loving - ourselves, what we do and for whom we do it, Leading - ourselves to be disciplined to pursue our purpose and leading others to places they can't go on their own through active collaboration and Leaving a Legacy - of principles centered life
To do this we need faith in ourselves and others who can and are willing to align with our purpose.
Are you ready to take the first step with total faith?