the executive corner
DETERMINING AUTHENTICITY:
Are You Truly a CEO? One of the biggest problems we see with owners and CEOs in the community management industry is that they are not fulfilling the “Chief Executive Officer” role within their business. By Adam Balkcom
IF YOU FIND YOURSELF:
• Managing properties or doing accounting for your communities • Meeting with every member of your team from the top down • Dealing with non-essential problems/issues • Filling the role of business development/sales for your company (except in special cases) then you are not an actual CEO. While some of these tasks are crucially essential pieces of the puzzle for any business, they are not the role of a CEO.
A CEO SHOULD SPEND THEIR TIME: • Developing the company’s vision and promoting its culture • Coaching executives and key employees • Developing strategic objectives and direction • Analyzing data and tracking critical KPIs • Managing high-value clients and strategic relationships. A CEO’s value lies in the wisdom of their decisions, not in the number of items they can complete on their task list in a day.
As you grow with an organization through being a manager, leading a division, joining the executive team, and ultimately filling the CEO role, more and more of your time should be spent on strategic/creative thinking. So many leaders spend far too much time on task-based tactical thinking. Without you fulfilling the role of an actual CEO, your company cannot be on a path of increasing success and profitability. Whether you find yourself completely distracted from your proper role as CEO, wearing multiple hats across your business, or somewhere in between, there are concrete steps you can take to propel yourself into the authentic CEO role.
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Vision Spring 2024 | cacm.org