罢丑别听executive roles of the听C-suite听are the听target destinations听蹿辞谤听补尘产颈迟颈辞耻蝉听business leaders,听and the position of听颁贰翱听is the ultimate prize for many.听A听 found a diverse pathway to become a CEO, but something听a majority of the听CEOs had in common was听advanced degrees.听
Paths to become听CEO听听
The modern CEO
Heidrick鈥檚 study听found听that companies hiring externally favored other听颁贰翱s, ready to tackle the challenges of global business in a pandemic. Internally,听division leaders were favored, particularly COOs. But these more traditional paths only accounted for 20% of CEOs.听The rest followed a diverse range of paths,听with companies听valuing a wider range听of backgrounds, skills and听levels of听experience.听听
鈥淭hough CEOs expect to rely ever more on their teams, boards are also increasingly seeking diversity of experience and thought in the CEOs themselves,鈥�听says the report.听So how do you听ensure your听CEO听strategy听will secure you the top role?听
Set your CEO agenda听
To ensure you鈥檙e on the right track, you need to听plan like a CEO听and get into the mindset.听Create your own CEO agenda and consider what you want to accomplish with it.听What are your goals? How will you judge at year鈥檚 end听if听you were successful in reaching them?鈥疉re you heading in the right, proactive direction toward success?听听
A听can听help听potential听颁贰翱s better grasp the knowledge, mindset, skills and capabilities needed to lead companies听to the next level of excellence.听
Plan your succession听
Heidrick鈥檚 2020 CEO report found听that companies are increasingly developing internal successors as CEOs.听In today鈥檚 extraordinary business conditions,听companies听are bringing in听potential CEOs at one or two positions below CEO level听to allow executives to immerse themselves in the business听culture.听
This gives听companies a range of candidates to choose from, so听it鈥檚 essential that you听are strongly aligned with the company鈥檚 vision if your goal is to听emerge as听the听natural听successor to the听颁贰翱.听
鈥淭he case for a functional CEO is strongest when his or her expertise is core to a company鈥檚 critical business challenges,鈥�听听from听global strategy and corporate finance听firm McKinsey.听听鈥淥rganizations in the midst of a major digital transformation might benefit from a CTO in the top spot, and a CMO-turned-CEO could be just what the doctor ordered for a company rethinking its brand portfolio.鈥�听
Look to the future, not the past
In a somewhat prescient听听in 2013,听leaders suggested that an increasingly disruptive environment听makes听past performance an unreliable indicator听of future CEO success.听鈥�The great majority see their companies鈥� ability to effectively identify and nurture great future leaders being significantly hampered by an increasingly complex business landscape,鈥� the report correctly听projected.听
More important than past performance, they overwhelmingly agreed,听is identifying the personal traits that indicate leadership potential.听
, such as an听,鈥痚xposes you to the latest trends, ideas and concepts shaping global business and gives you the knowledge, insight and mindset you need to drive and sustain competitive advantage听to become great leader.听
