First Thing You Should Do As A New CEO

The feeling that someday someone or something moves in my favour and things will just "click" and the business success of my dream will become a reality, is a thought many startup CEOs confess to have  nurtured at one point or the other.  

While one cannot deny the possibility of that but when such happens it is  usually the exception and not the rule. Again, "The world is full of people who are waiting for someone to come along and motivate them to be the kind of people they wish they could be. The problem is that no one is coming to the rescue." Says Brian Tracy,a reputable international consultant and performance coach. As a CEO ,you are the one to put in the thinking and the effort that  will grow your business.

For your business to make it into the league of " fortune brands" you must first have certain critical plans. The first and the most important of those key plans highly successful CEOs make is to develop a personal growth plan. This is because the skills that earned you your new role as a CEO are insufficient to make you succeed in it. Leadership is a big deal and it's full of different challenges. 

According to a survey, only about 2 percent of people work entirely without supervision. This set of people are generally referred to as "leaders". The influential executors. This "leaders' status is achieved only by continuous personal development which also is the bedrock of personal growth."Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any area". Asserts BrianTracy.Unfortunately,"growth plan" is what a greater percentage of senior managers don't have, nor are they able to link it to organisation performance.

A personal growth plan for a CEO is about developing a system of continuous learning that is aimed at helping her reach full potential. "You are your business's greatest asset....the growth of your business will always be proportional to your ability to maximize your personal potential. ....Remain as you are,and your business will never flourish" says Tod Duncan author,speaker and CEO of The Duncan Group in Atlanta.

Another idea behind  a personal development plan is to intentionally move you into the category of people described above  as "leaders". Leader not by mere position but by awareness and capability. To achieve this requires a relentless commitment to a battery of continual learning that would improve your capacity to oversee self,people and task. 

More so, rapid change, informed competition, and economic recession have changed the dynamics of business. Leaders are often pushed beyond their current capabilities, requiring new skills set to achieve set objectives. Some leaders resort to "trial and error" and are punished;sometimes with outright business extinction. Developing a  personal growth plan  helps a manager to constantly update his work knowledge to especially to thrive with less budget in a competitive and rapidly changing world. The long term  effect of  personal development is a more confident , competent and creative you.

The other reason for a personal growth plan is to prepare you for the future of business by equipping you with timeless skills that empower you ahead of dark moments  when " the capabilities that earned you  trust and respect" becomes obsolete. That time is often nearer than you think.

Also,``Personal development is more than just working on the talents you already have. It’s about developing new skills, so you become even more valuable to a business. By developing your skills, you may be able to seek new and exciting roles in other areas of the business,......" says Robert Half in his article " Upskilling and training – who in your team is responsible for it?"

In conclusion, may you be reminded that the whole essence of personal growth is to help you get better.  As Pat Riley,a basketball coach would say""If you are not getting better you are getting worse".