Editor's note: In working with CEOs, some of whom are also founders, executives whose next step is to be CEO, as well as with young people who desire to found a company some day, Ueng has accumulated learnings of steps it takes to become an effective CEO and traits of effective CEOs. She recently interviewed noted Triangle CEOs to share their wisdom for Work & Money readers.
Where do successful CEOs focus?
Frey suggests "judging talent, being able to judge how individuals will relate to teams that you are building."
Whitehurst agrees that when hiring he looks for those that "complement the existing team". He rarely hires for direct skills in that position. Instead, he looks for credibility and different perspectives to make the team stronger. He would rather have a really good team than strong individuals. He looks for those who possess innate curiosity.
"Have a strong strategic view that can sustain through short term challenges," Frey concludes when describing skills important for a CEO.
Replogle states that he focuses on 3 things. He states as #1: like Frey, of setting right strategy and ensuring the organization is aligned to make right tradeoffs between resources and investment. #2: He believes that he must develop the right talent and build the right team along with performance management systems and continue to nurture and develop the Burt's Bees culture that had been developed long before his arrival. This was similar to Whitehurt's comments, since the Red Hat culture was very mature and profound when he joined. #3: Ensuring that he and his team execute and operate against annual plan.
Replogle explained that the culture at Burt's Bees was more important than any other place he had worked, that it was very important for him to retain it.
Frey goes further to state that CEOs must understand everything you do contributes to the culture you are running. "Culture of the company determines its fate. A lot of people don't realize how important small things are and how they contribute to the culture."
Comments