Want to be a CEO? (Diversity, Knowledge, Experience, Relationships)

Wherever you are in your career stop and look carefully at your past history. Some people have little knowledge about their preparation to be the one who is qualified to lead a company. In your career have you diversified your knowledge of the functional parts of a company?  

Perhaps you were offered the top position because you had potential and only some knowledge of what it takes to be CEO. If you were flattered by the offer yet knowing that you were not qualified, you accepted the position. Certainly, you will have a moonlight period but six or nine months down the road you are floundering and are not certain of your decisions. Nevertheless, you carry on as though you know what you are doing. Either you will be asked to resign, or get fired, and that always affects an ego.

Being a CEO is about knowledge, diversity, experience, relationships and if you lack these qualities, start where you are and climb the ladder. Many of us took positions we learned from and moved into positions step-by-step. This means building relationships, professional development, and gaining diversified experience in many arenas. All this is not accomplished in one day, one week, one year but over a reasonable period of time. It may mean educating yourself and being in positions that help you reach your goal.

As a young professional, there were times that I was put in a tenuous position. Therefore, I depended on those who had expertise in various topics and consulted authors who researched the topics that were unfamiliar to me. To this day, I consult with those who have the experience, knowledge and relationships that lead me to making good decisions. Build your support system and you will always have someone who has your back.

Being a CEO is far from being a walk in the park, and be realistic about your knowledge of the facts. Are you ready to take on the many issues that confront companies each day? Do you know what they might be? Let me give you a thumbnail sketch of those issues. Often the bottom line are finances and maintaining the revenue and increasing that revenue is paramount to the company surviving. Next and equally important is fulfilling the mission of the company. This involves topics like relationships, experience, knowledge of many facts gathered over many months and years. If you are a novice in these areas will you be successful?

Not all CEO's are capable of addressing the above issues and make wrong decisions. The truth of the matter is, it is often a black mark on the company and tends to be the thing that brings down a workable organization.

You may have the potential, but is that enough to project you into a a position that requires discretion and knowledge in many different areas? Trying it out is not like trying out new shoes.
Be true to yourself and do not get tied up in the company's need to fill a position. Your career choices are important and a wrong decision on your part may be the end of your climb to the ladder of success.

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Gloria M. Reiske is an MSW, LCSW with more than thirty years experience in education, administration, social work, and coaching. She has authored many articles and is published in local media, having written a men and grief manual for training purposes throughout Virginia and an article for children and grief. Email her at gloriareiske@blogspot.com and check out this article on Facebook.