Success in leadership is not guaranteed; being effective in a position of power, particularly as a CEO, requires a great deal of effort. Nearly 40% of CEOs fail in their roles within the first year and a half, according to the Corporate Leadership Council, while a Harvard research indicated that the median tenure for a CEO is only 5 years.
There are a number of CEOs that have lasted longer than 18 months in their positions and have shown to be successful in their roles. Many of those industry experts have shared their wisdom on how to lead, motivate, and run a successful business. However, these CEOs have sage advice to offer anyone wishing to follow in their footsteps, despite the fact that each leader is unique and each situation necessitates a different set of talents.
“Leading is not just about managing people. To lead, you have to help people understand where we’re trying to take the company and what their role is in getting it there.” – Mark Hurd, CEO of Oracle
Being responsible for not only keeping your organization up to date but also managing a workforce comprised of individuals with distinct career pathways and opportunities for advancement, you have a lot on your plate. What should you be focusing on, then? Here’s a list of the 5 most critical leadership tips every technology CEOs need to know in order to be successful.
Table of contents
1. Hire the Right People 🧑💼
You won’t be able to hire many employees in the early stages of your business. And so your tiny team will have to handle issues that large corporations have entire departments for. Take some time to think about which jobs you need to fill first and hire people who can accomplish a lot of things on their own. When it comes to their duties, you won’t have the time to walk your staff through every step, therefore they need to be creative and self-starters.
In order to avoid having to deal with benefits and pay right from the start, consider hiring employees on a freelancing basis first. To identify more people who will fit in with your new company, turn to your coworkers and the new hires you’ve already hired.
2. Understand the Power of Perception🧐
The “I’m a Mac” ad campaign by Steve Jobs rebranded Jobs as the guru of the Tech world, although Lou Gerstner, CEO of IBM, actually had a greater grasp of this than Jobs. Before he could change the reality of what IBM was during his turnaround effort, he employed a hand-picked marketing team of outsiders to modify how IBM was seen.
There is no such thing as a perfect firm. The assets of even a problematic company can be highlighted and the issues minimized, making it appear more valuable and its products more appealing. The power of perception is underestimated by most CEOs. Because of the difficulties she had at Yahoo, Carol Bartz was only there for around three years.
Those CEOs who stray too far from reality risk destroying the company’s reputation. (Although, that could work.) Just look at the success of a man like Barnum, who made his fortune by convincing his audience that nothing was impossible.
3. Be Flexible 🎏
As a startup CEO, you must be able to adapt to any situation. Everything is going to go wrong, businesses are going to fail, and projects are going to break apart, therefore you’ll need to be able to adapt swiftly. It’s important to learn how to deal with these kinds of setbacks so that you can keep your organization moving forward. It’s possible that you’ll have to rethink your strategy or abandon a project that’s costing you money in the middle of it.
If you’re a startup, you generally won’t have the money to hire experts like lawyers or analysts right away, so you’ll have to come up with inventive solutions yourself. In dealing with personnel, you must also be adaptable. People will stay with you longer if you allow them to work from home or on alternate schedules.
4. Accept Rapid, Constant Change 🏃♂️
Only one thing in technology is constant: the pace of change. Things that were vital just a few years ago may be obsolete. Accepting continual, quick change and not taking anything too seriously are both necessary for success.
Technology management boils down to a constant comparison of known and unknown options. – Noah Gift, Noah Gift & Associates
5. Never Forget You’re the Face of the Company🕺
Finally, a CEO must understand that she is the company’s public face. Once she has the job, the self-promotion she used to get it will be pointless. She no longer has control over her own success; it’s now based on that of the business leaders and personnel who report to her. When it comes to this final talent, IBM CEO Ginni Rometty and her predecessor Sam Palmisano are among the best in the business.
For many CEOs, it is difficult to make the transition from personal booster to corporate avatar. Those who succeed usually have a firm grasp on all six of the aforementioned guidelines. As a result, they are more successful and love their work more. To avoid becoming paranoid and creating a work environment that is filled with fear, those who do not become paranoid and help create a work environment that is filled with fear are those who do not end up paranoid.