In organizational theory, the abbreviation CEO usually represents Chief Executive Officer. “What is a Chief Executive Officer?” “What does he or she do?” The CEO is the highest corporate officer of an organization. This individual is in charge of the total management of the organization. The simplest answer is that the CEO is the boss! All areas of the corporation and all individuals within the organization work under the ultimate direction of the CEO. What are some of the differences between terrible CEO’s and great ones?

What does a bad CEO say and do? The negative pictures of a CEO usually begin with a monster screaming orders at the employees.

“The last quarter was a disaster! It better not happen again!”

 

If the ogre is not yelling at everyone, then the cutthroat is making the poor employee who made a mistake walk the plank.

“That’s it! I’ve had enough of your mistakes. You’re fired!”

 

Many times the bad boss is a micromanager, who must control every aspect of the organization, and approve every decision in detail.

“The buck stops with me. This is my company. You will do it my way! Let me see what you’re doing!”

 

Bad CEO’s are often notorious for manipulating individuals in order to get their own way. They treat people like they are toys or puppets.

“You’ll dance until I say you’re done. Next time I tell you to do something, you’ll do it immediately, without question.”

 

Terrible CEO’s have lost the respect of their employees. How can you tell when a boss has lost the respect of the employees? Figuratively and literally, the employees turn their backs on the boss. They may follow orders, but their hearts aren’t in it.

“What are you idiots doing? Why isn’t anyone paying attention to me? Look at me when I’m talking to you, I’m your boss!”

 

If that’s what a bad boss does and says, what does the good boss look like? The good boss is a true executive officer who sets the vision and direction for the ship. The good ship’s captain is the individual whose very presence on the bridge commands respect.

“Be alert, the enemy has been spotted in the area. We’re in imminent danger. Every one to battle stations. Change course to 90 degrees. Engines ahead, full speed.”

 

The capable CEO must act like a coach of a winning athletic team. The coach serves from the side line, and many times behind the scenes, teaching and encouraging the players.

“Great tackle! Be ready to jump into the passing lane. Watch the quarterback’s eyes, just like you do in practice.”

 

Research has shown that high performing organizations have a set of ethical standards that are well publicized across the organization, known and followed by everyone. In these organizations, the CEO is the standard bearer and sets the moral tone for the organization.

“Do I take the shortcut, just this one time? I probably won’t get caught. NO! This organization, my reputation and my life is built on doing what is right.”

 

The good CEO encourages everyone in the organization, builds up their self-confidence, and urges them on to higher standards.

“This is great work, you two. I really like your proposal for the new ad campaign. Do you think we could tweak the sales goals just slightly?”

 

A great CEO empowers people, and enables them to be all that they can be.

“I really liked how you turned this failing store around. I think you have the right stuff. I want to make you district manager.”

 

The CEO definitely needs to be the Chief Executive Officer, the individual who helps formulate the vision of the organization and leads the management of its operations. However, the CEO also needs to be the Chief Ethics Officer, the individual who helps define the values of the organization, and sets its moral and ethic tone. The CEO needs to be the Chief Encouragement Officer, the individual who is constantly encouraging people to continually strive to do their best and achieve great things. In addition, the CEO must be the Chief Empowerment Officer, the individual who enables or authorizes individuals to do what they can and be who they are meant to be. These building blocks fit together to form the Leadership Pyramid.

In my next blog post, I propose that there is at least one more function that a CEO must fulfill. The excellent CEO must be the Chief Eleemosynary Officer of the organization. You don’t know what eleemosynary means? Neither did I until I started looking for E-words to fit in the title CEO. I’m not telling you yet what the word means. You’ll either have to look it up or wait until my next post.