Competencies CEOs need to have

OVER the years as a columnist for the

NewsDay Weekender, I have had privileges of interviewing great minds, chief executive officers (CEOs) and great thought leaders. In my notes, seven things stood out, especially for exceptional and effective CEOs. Their thoughts might have been said differently, but they came to mean the same thing.

Eye for detail

Great CEOs have an eye for detail. If they don’t have that eye, they can have someone to help then see refined detail. Small things affect big things.

The moment the CEO is able to granulise things, they are able to see and create the bigger picture. The bigger picture starts with the ability to identify, define, analyse and conceptualise detail.

Eye for the future

The CEO acts as the eyes and ears of the company. They have a special eye to see the future. If they can’t, they will be caught flatfooted. This skill is based on the ability to read detail, and analyse past patterns both for internal and external factors.

Secondly, this is based on the ability to know culture, consumer patterns, market trends, and industry needs and changes.

For example, every business goes through four basic stages — introduction, growth, plateaux and decline. The ability to read these stages makes the leader to be able to make informed judgments and decisions. For example, if a new CEO for a company is not able to read these stages, he might be flogging a dead donkey. Great CEOs have been able to read the next bounce of the ball.

Understanding the customer

Great leaders know where their money comes from and make an effort to study the customer. Know customer needs, problems, and patterns. This makes you to serve them better. Business is more than selling a product, but providing an unforgettable customer experience.

Team effort

Teams produce a service or a product. Great CEOs know how to bring together talent, retain it and make it to effectively work together. So, what do teams bring? They bring skill, competencies, energy and diversity.

Industry knowledge

Industry is always changing. Nothing remains static because there is competition, complexity and change. Being armed with the right tools, notes or knowledge makes one to stay ahead of the pack. The CEO must be knowledgeable and understand all the cogs of the business they run.

Disruptive thinking

Great leaders have to take the least travelled road. They take risk and are not comfortable with linearity and seating on their laurels. Besides taking risk, appreciate ideas that are brought by others to improve or positively change the face and fate of the organisation.

Ever learning

Success in not necessary for educated people, but for people willing to learn all the time. That is true with great CEOs. Learning informs, educates, empowers and enhances our mindset and skill sets.

Parting Point: Every generation has its great CEOs. In the past it was CEOs from IBM, Nokia and Motorola. They entered into a special time space, rode on the wave and excelled.

Now, we have new CEOs from global companies such as Apple and Google. How did they succeed? They aligned with the said principles and practices.