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Office parties during holidays are fraught with peril for the CEO. Social behavior can be awkward for the CEO at company parties. For you it is not a party, it is an occasion  to shake hands with the staff you rarely see during the work week and thank them for a great job. Remember you […]

You the CEO must be aware that your firm will be hacked. The more prominent your firm, the more likely it will happen. Unless you want to turn the clock back and go to handwritten notes slipped into those brown ‘internal use only’ envelopes– with the holes punched in them with a little red string […]

Never keep your office door closed. If you do, all the office doors in your company will close. Spend as little time as possible in your office. Nothing happens inside unless you make it happen outside. you don’t lead by osmosis, you lead by direct contact. The employees want to see you smile at them […]

Act like the CEO, have the big corner office, but eat in the lunch room. When you do, hang your jacket on the back of the uncomfortable plastic chairs you bought at a sale. On Fridays, buy pizzas for everyone. Never keep your office door closed. If you do all the office doors in your […]

A successful CEO leads by example. How you comport yourself–how you dress–how you behave — will in time be reflected in the people that work for you. You wear bright ties, they’ll wear bright ties. You wear tailored blouses and pencil skirts, they wear the same. Clothes make the person. Sounds trite? Don’t believe it. […]

When you are praised for the firm’s performance, always say. ” Thank you, our team is great.” Never take credit, give it. Feed your team’s ego, your ego is already full.

  At sometime, you will be  replaced  as  the CEO, hopefully by someone you groomed, but your family will be your family. Don’t let your ego and drive screw that up. Members of your team, your board, your investors will not be at your side on your deathbed. They won’t remember who you are. Only […]

You’re an enigma, an unknown. Employees will talk about you behind your back, not certain what their future holds. Don’t keep them in suspense. Take action at the first opportunity. Look for one in where you come across as an optimist. You are an optimist by nature— live it—breathe it— employees love optimism. Don’t fret […]

Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do something. The trade delegation from the Mexican embassy persuades you to move your plant to Monterrey. The numbers are overwhelming. Your institutional investors will love it. Be a leader. Instead of having your EVP of manufacturing flanked by your CFO make the announcement at […]

You’ve made it. You worked hard, you played the game, you said, “yes, I can,” you made a positive contribution, you got lucky, your predecessor retired, a search firm placed you, you raised capital to start your dream. Whatever the path you took, you are now the person in charge, the boss, the big kahuna. […]