4 CEO Success Strategies from… Santa?

‘Twas the last month of the year, and all through the world,
Not a CEO was sleeping, not even the head of Ford.
The company goals were logged in spreadsheets with care
In hopes that this time, it would finally be “their year.”

The projections were documented, including the spreads,
While anxiety-fueled visions danced in their heads.
And Rudolph with his nose, and Santa, carefree, in his suit,
Had just settled into the sleigh for their long winter’s commute.

Santa’s task of delivering toys to all the children of the world is considered daunting by most.

Yet he consistently does it while staying jolly.

How?

By having a clearly defined CEO role that sets himself, and his enterprise, up for success.

1. He’s the face of the entire operation.
2. His focus is on the relationships that matter most to his enterprise.
3. When he pulls his annual all-nighter, he is doing what he loves most (and only he can do). Bringing joy to children around the world.
4. The rest of the year he is inspiring his team and resting up, so he is ready for his next overnight trip around the world.

Because he loves bringing joy to children of all ages…here are Santa’s secrets for being a successful CEO:

Listen carefully to your clients & understand their needs. 

By being open and listening to understand, you get to the wants and desires that drive your customer’s needs.

This includes positive and negative feedback. Because when you know why they really need your services, as well as what they like and don’t like, you will spot opportunities.

As a result, you can add features or create other services and solutions that address their ultimate goal as well as their immediate need.

Bonus, when people feel heard and understood they are more committed to the person or company who is listening to them.

Focus on work that only you can do. 

When you are doing work that you love you are happier, more productive, and get better results. It’s also what your company and team need most from you.

But it’s often what gets pushed to the side by tasks that feel urgent and important (but really aren’t) or by work that others could do (possibly even better than you).

As a result, your company doesn’t advance as fast as you would like it to (if it advances at all).

To turn this around, define the tasks that will really move the needle for your company, identify the ones that truly require your expertise, and do them.

You can likely unload the rest of your workload through delegation, automation, and elimination. We all have things on our lists that feel important and yet when they never get done there is no negative impact.

Delegate operational tasks. 

Yes, this can be very hard to do, especially if you founded the company and haven’t started letting go yet. But to get you doing what matters most for your company, it’s essential.

For example, Santa’s top elf runs North Pole Operations and is supported by a team of directors for key departments, like Santa’s Workshop. Rudolph, Head of Navigation, guides his sleigh. While Mrs. Claus handles Household Operations and has hot cocoa ready for him when he returns.

The good news is that you don’t have to hand everything off at once. Transitioning gradually from doing it all yourself to hiring a COO (fractional or full-time) is less stressful on you and your team.

Start by working closely with your Second-in-Command (the person you turn to first). Let them take things off your plate so you can do work that makes a bigger difference for the company. You can even hand off individual tasks in phases if you aren’t comfortable giving them full responsibility yet.

Bonus, equipping your Second-in-Command so they can truly support you allows you to capitalize on the power of your complementary strengths. It also positions them to handle daily operations when you take the next step and engage a fractional COO.

Inspire your team. 

When you tune into what’s going on inside your company, show support for your Second-in-Command and leadership team, see failures as learning opportunities, and celebrate mini wins along the way you create a company filled with dedicated employees who go the extra mile and stick around.

This Holiday Season, follow Santa’s lead.

Define your role as CEO and give your company (and yourself) the gift that keeps on giving.

Written by Diane E. Mentzer.
Have you read?
Most Forested Countries In The World.
World’s Most Fashionable Countries.
Best Non-Native English Speaking Countries In The World.
Countries With The Largest Household Size.
World’s Best (And Worst) Countries For Older People To Live In.