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How to Think and Act Like the Best CEO

Posted by Debra Benton on 1/17/2007 at 8:12 AM
Posted in Career Planning, Leadership

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22 Vital Traits You Need to Be the Person at the Top

Be secure in yourself: No one makes you feel inferior without your consent.
Be in control of your attitude: Success in business is based more on mental attitude than mental capabilities
Be tenacious: Nothing ever happens with one letter, one telephone call, one request.
Be continuously improving: Take risks. Mistakes provide some of your best learning.
Be honest and ethical: If you are careless with the truth, your credibility will be jeopardized when you are telling the truth.
Be sure to think before you talk: Think fast, pause, then speak purposefully.
Be original: Carefully observe what more people are doing in any situation, and don't do that.
Be publicly modest: It's more of a thrill to have others recognize your ability rather than your pointing it out first. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, --Never underestimate a man who overestimates himself.--
Be aware of your style: Style does not pertain to clothes. It's about what you do in your clothes.
Be gutsy: List the things that scare you the most - then make it your to-do list.
Be humorous: It takes guts to inject levity into serious business situations - but somebody has to do it, and it better be you.
Be a tad theatrical: Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Leadership is about performance and performing.
Be detail-oriented: The small things will always make the biggest difference.
Be willing to lead: Be worth listening to, worth believing, worth following.
Be sure to fight for your people: Be loyal downward; spread credit downward.
Be willing to admit mistakes: If you are error-free, you're likely effort-free.
Be straightforward: Everything you say or write can be done in a plain, simple manner. Just do it.
Be nice: The more power and prestige you hold, the less it may seem you need to be nice. Wrong.
Be inquisitive: Ask, ask, ask, and then ask more.
Be competitive: Don't pray for an easy win in situations you are involved in. You don't learn much from success, especially easy success. You learn from struggle.
Be flexible: Be able to stand out from the crowd while still fitting in with the crowd.
Be a good storyteller: People understand you better, remember what you say longer, find you smarter and more interesting if you use anecdotes to make your points.

For more leaders strategies, be sure to investigage Trump University's newest self-instructional courses.

Debra Benton, president of Benton Management Resources, is one of America's top executive coaches. She works with a prestigious list of Fortune 500, upwardly-mobile executives. Her best-selling books include: How to Think Like a CEO; Executive Charisma: Six Steps to Mastering the Art of Leadership; and How to Act Like a CEO: 10 Rules for Getting to the Top and Staying There.

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4 Comments

Posted by Richard_G on 01/18/2007 11:20 AM

So many business owners forget that employees are the backbone of their business. Your point "Be Nice" is likely the most commonly looked over attribute to be a good CEO. I'm sure that many company owners would likely disagree with the mentality that employees are a dime a dozen. In the past I've come across a few of these types of employers, and today the ones I've heard about didn't fair well after time. Right now in the marketplace where I'm situated, employees have a strangle hold on companies because at the moment the rapid economic growth and positions has far exceeded the number of viable employees. Recently I gave a friend the advice to quit a current job and find better employment. This trend won't continue forever, but this same trend also opens the marketplace for new businesses, so if your stuck in a go nowhere dead-end job,,, maybe the timing is perfect to become an entrepreneur.

Sincerely

Richard F. Guyon

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Posted by member1483084 on 01/18/2007 9:44 PM

I just wanted to email Trump.

Anyhow, I'd like to say I never thought of Trump until I saw that "Rosie O'donnel/Donald Trump conflict." I have to admit, it was damn entertaining. I have always disliked her, still do, but that is how I know the Trump name. Anyhow, I have watched the "reality show" The Apprentice and love it ("You're fired" always manages to make me chuckle." I'd just like to give a congratulations to Trump. The Apprentice entertains me (the one "reality show" I like, next to America's Next Top Model which I hate to admit). I like to give people credit if I like their service. I hope you enjoy your career, I found one that I Iove and wish everybody the same. I hope to see another season of "The Apprentice" Mr. Trump.

Sincerely,
Allison

PS: I downloaded the 5th season. I'm too tempted to watch the last episode to see who wins! There's a survivor hype, perhaps I shouldn't bother to watch it due to my curiosity.

Posted by member1366890 on 01/19/2007 1:36 AM

*Be secure in yourself: No one makes you feel inferior without your consent. * Ultimate truth. Wonderful post! Short, direct, strong, laser streight to the mind:-)

Ina Matijevic (Ina***)

Posted by Rachael Sutton #1253595 on 12/07/2008 1:17 PM

Thanks. I love this. Aren't you also the brilliant person that came up with the game of cards to teach about cultural differences?

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