Leadership Lessons: Getting to The Top

The words of Thomas Watson, who led IBM for 42 years : “Nothing so conclusively proves a person’s ability to lead others, as what they do from day to day to lead themselves.” Is one of my favorite quotes. It's deep, and if you truly understand its meaning it can change your life. As current and future leaders, this pearl of wisdom is part of the executive mindset that you cannot learn you just have to do it.

The C-Suite has a very small population and a lot of people who would like to be there. But how many people do what it takes to reach the top of an organization, or even know what to do to reach the C-Suite?

The first step in reaching the level of Chief Anything Officer is to decide that it’s something you want to accomplish. In his book, The Business Playbook, Brandon Steiner, former President and CEO of Steiner Sports wrote, “People say they want to make money and lose weight when what they mean is that they want to be rich and thin. Achieving … takes effort and planning.”

Ask any Chief Executive and they will tell you that their role is achievable. After all, they got there. But what are the qualities that a young executive or student can develop that would help them reach the top?

According to the CEO Genome Project, four behaviors are shared by most C-Suite occupants:

1.??They are decisive. They don’t always make the right decisions, but good CEOs make swift decisions and make them with conviction and confidence.

2.??They engage with stakeholders and don’t avoid conflict. Good CEOs come to the table knowing that they need buy-in and know how to get it. Those who have made it to the top learned early and well how to understand other people’s needs and how to align those needs with their plans.

3.??They adapt to changing circumstances. Mike Tyson (not a CEO) famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Learning flexibility and knowing when to change either the strategy or the tactic are key skills of top executives.

4.??They always follow through on their commitments. Successful Chief Executives have developed a reputation for reliability and have spent their careers growing that reputation.

Another one of the primary steps in achieving the ambition of reaching the CEO level is to be open and vocal about it. Very few get to the C-Suite through shyness. Let those above you in the hierarchy know that you’re looking for the opportunity to rise.

It’s important to note the importance of mentors. Dean Cannon, President and CEO of GrayRobinson and contributor to ALM's How I Made President & CEO says, “I truly believe I am where I am today only because of the many people who have invested time and teaching in me and pushed me to not only pursue excellence but to take positive steps (and sometimes risks) toward achieving it.”

So, it’s worth repeating: The words of Thomas Watson, who led IBM for 42 years: “Nothing so conclusively proves a person’s ability to lead others, as what they do from day to day to lead themselves.” Yep. It's deep.

Now go ahead. Make your plan to the C-Suite!