Being elevated to the rank of CEO is the pinnacle in the careers of many people in the business world. But the prestige, authority, and compensation also come with a great deal of challenges and responsibilities.
According to Mike Salvino—managing director of investment firm Carrick Capital Partners and former Group CEO for Accenture Operations—one of the most difficult challenges for any CEO is championing the mission for change. “CEOs are brought in to grow the business,” he says. “This is one of the biggest challenges of the job, because your role is to require change from people who don’t all want to change.”
Salvino advocates a number of strategies, tips, and mantras to help CEOs succeed in a challenging role, but here we’re going to look at two, specifically, as they relate to communicating a vision for change.
Alignment Rule
The first step in effectively communicating your goal is to be extremely clear on just what that goal is. “Be crystal clear on ‘the goal’ and accept nothing less than getting there,” says Salvino. “If your people don’t understand the goal, you are all spinning your wheels, and all of the other leadership suggestions in this article will be for naught.”
7X Rule
Being clear isn’t enough by itself. It’s important to be consistent and persistent in your messaging as well. “Change doesn’t happen overnight,” says Salvino. “No matter how big or small the change, you have to be patient and keep telling your story over and over again. I’ve found 7 to be the magic number. You’ll know that it worked when you hear your people telling your story in their own words.”
While being handed the reins of a top company as the chief executive officer is a dream come true for many, it’s a job that doesn’t come easy. While many people may feel they have great ideas and a vision for their company, finding a way to communicate and drive that vision requires hard work and strong strategy.