It’s a good list, but what bothers me is why focus on the CEO? Thanks to Luke Froeb of Management R&D for posting this last week, from the Wall Street Journal: Keys to Spotting a Flawed CEO — Before It’s Too Late.
I think I agree with one of the commenters, why not choose a president this way too?
For example, among the keys to watch for are
- An overt zeal for prestige, power and wealth.
- A reputation for shameless self-promotion.
- A proclivity for developing grandiose strategies with little thought toward their implementation.
- A fondness for rules and numbers that overshadows or ignores a broader vision.
- A reputation for implementing major strategic changes unilaterally or for forcing programs down the throats of reluctant managers.
- An impulsive, flippant decision-making style.
- A penchant for inconsiderate acts.
- A love of monologues coupled with poor listening skills. Bad listeners rarely profit from the wisdom of their associates.
- A tendency to display contempt for the ideas of others.
- A history of emphasizing activity, like hours worked or meetings attended, over accomplishment.
- A career marked by numerous misunderstandings.
- A superb ability to compartmentalize and/or rationalize.
So how does somebody who displays contempt for the ideas of others, or somebody whose career is marked by numerous misunderstandings, become a CEO candidate in the first place?
I think this is just a good list in general, a “don’t be this person” list.
Comments
Hi Tim:
I also found this article very interesting and had a personal experience about it, tying it to this WSJ article in my blog last week.
http://meetkendall.com/2007/12/09/how-to-spot-a-flawed-ceo/
-Kendall