The CEO Next Door: The 4 Behaviors That Transform Ordinary People Into World-Class Leaders<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elena L. Botelho and Kim R. Powell with Tahl Raz<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Set the strategy and build the team and culture that would take the company there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Makes a Great CEO Section 1: Get Strong: Master the Four CEO Genome Behaviors<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our research uncovers the Four CEO Genome Behaviors <\/strong>statistically associated with success: Decisiveness, Engaging for Impact, Relentless Reliability, <\/strong>and Adapting Boldly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When we dug into the behaviors that differentiated high-performing CEOs, the behavior that stood out wasn\u2019t thoughtfulness, analytical rigor, or any other trait you might link to quality decision making. Successful CEOs stood out for <\/em>decisiveness itself – <\/em>the ability to make decisions with speed and conviction. Decisive CEOs in our study are twelve times more likely to be high performers.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Decisive CEOs are driven by a unique sense of responsibility: \u201cIt\u2019s on me to handle this,\u201d they realize. While the rest of us may tie ourselves into knots, wanting to get each decision right, they make calls they know could be wrong, operating in a sea of uncertainty. What makes all this possible: deciding with speed and conviction. Knowing which decisions require nine minutes of deliberation, which require two weeks, and which don\u2019t require your attention at all. And, above all, conscientiously learning from every call – good or bad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What differentiates CEOs like Steve Gorman is their recognition, their firm belief, that when you need to get somewhere, even having the wrong map is better than no map at all. Art Collins, the former CEO of Medtronic and board member at Boeing, U.S. Bancorp, and several other leading corporations, told us, \u201cIt\u2019s like calling a play. I was a quarterback when I played football. You didn\u2019t always call the right play, but boy, once you called the play, you\u2019d better have all your team;mates execute against it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if you hope to make it to the corner office, stop sweating every decision. Instead, like Gorman, choose your map and press forward with speed and conviction. Become Decisive.<\/strong> As you strengthen those Decisive <\/strong>muscles, focus on three things: make decisions faster<\/em>, make fever <\/em>decisions, and put in place practices to get better at decision making every time<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make Decisions Faster<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Make the complex simple. Using a framework adds speed to decision making by simplifying complexity. Such a framework makes it clear to the entire organization what is important, so that not only the CEO but everyone can make better decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Early in his career when he was at Vision Express in the United Kingdom, he determined there were a set of key levers to improving profitability for the retail eyewear business, and every decision the team made had to revolve around those – and only those – levers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Give a voice, not a vote.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Effective decision makers actively involve others in their decision process. They do that for two reasons. First, to get multiple inputs to improve the quality of the decision. And second, to pave the path to smooth execution by building ownership and buy-in for the decision with relevant stakeholders. So when the time comes to execute, those who have to carry out the decision will become champions and willing volunteers, not chain-gang prisoners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The participative mantra of decisive CEOs is this: Everyone has a voice but not a vote. <\/em>Top CEOs recognize that there is an art to gathering input as part of the decision-making process. Yet they do not wait for consensus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Madeline Bell, CEO of the Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has a clear process in place to gather information and input from a variety of sources. She is incredibly inclusive when it comes to getting input from those around her. The information contributes to her decision. But often it has another purpose: to help her communicate<\/em> the decision in a way that will bring all the parties into alignment. During those discussions, she learns the pushback and sources of hesitation and can then build the rational to address the sources of concern. Participative, yes – but consensus driven? Not at all. Every decision she makes is unpopular with some contingent of stakeholders. But once she\u2019s made a decision, she doesn\u2019t look back unless material new information emerges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make Fewer Decisions<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n They wanted Madeline to referee the decision. \u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d she told them. \u201cI\u2019m not up to speed on the issues involved.\u201d She suggested that to answer the question, they look down <\/em>the chain of command instead of up. \u201cPeople closest to the day-to-day operations should be the ones to debate and decide it. This is not my decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Madeline was employing one helpful tactic: Do not step in when the decision rights reside with others in the organization who have the information and experience to make the decision. <\/em>It is a tactic that can be incorporated by leaders at every level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brad learned what all the best CEOs do: Your job is to decide on the what <\/em>and empower others to decide the how.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Get Better Every Time Too many leaders don\u2019t realize the degree to which their physical state – whether they are rested, exhausted, or overcaffeinated – affects their emotional state and therefore their ability to perform when it comes to making decisions. Effective leaders recognize that under physical or emotional stress or fatigue, they tend to default to their natural behavioral biases related to decision making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Look to the future.<\/strong> 4. Look around. Seek contrarian perspectives. When the VC firm Andreessen Horowitz evaluates CEOs, one of their primary questions is, Can the CEO get the company to do what she knows is right?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n At their best, leaders have the power to create a new and better reality. But the only way this new reality will emerge is by leaders enlisting others around them to do something different and often seemingly impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet when it comes to performance in the CEO role, likeability alone leads to suboptimal results. CEOs who engaged others with a results orientation were 75 percent more successful than those who simply excelled at interpersonal skills or being likeable.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Successful CEOs engage with others for impact rather than affinity<\/em>. They balance keen insight into their stakeholders\u2019 priorities with an unrelenting focus on delivering business results. They deeply understand others\u2019 needs without falling into the temptation to pander to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Being Too \u201cNice\u201d Can Get You Fired<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It can damage every one of the trifecta of key performance drivers – managing priorities, picking the right talent, and creating the right relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lead with Intent<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Good CEOs have a clear vision; great CEOs can enlist everyone from the janitor to the largest customer behind the vision and explain how and why the smallest details of that individual\u2019s role are critical to success. Their secret? They lead, in every interaction, with intent<\/em>. Leading with intent requires a leader to a) clearly articulate the intent to herself, b) consistently align her daily actions with her intent, and c) act on her intent in each interaction based on deep understanding of her audience and context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s nothing inspiring about showing up with a \u201cto do\u201d list and doling out tasks. People want to know where you\u2019re taking them and why<\/em>, particularly if you\u2019re asking them to do something difficult or different from what they\u2019re used to doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Surprising Tool for Perspective Getting<\/em><\/u><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/em>The importance of finding powerful and supportive mentors is among the mainstays of your typical \u201cCareer Management 101\u201d instruction. However, when we had SAS crunch our assessment data, we found that the weaker <\/em>CEO candidates talked about the importance of mentors to their <\/em>careers. The stronger<\/em> candidates talked about offering<\/em> mentorship to others more than about the mentorship they received themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentoring others is a powerful laboratory for perspective getting<\/em> – it\u2019s hard to help someone without understanding his needs. Those who mentor others become the men and women who have the team, the network, and the resources to get things done. Growing as a leader is a lot easier when there are people eager to follow you. And corporate boards know that when they hire a CEO, they hire her network, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jim Donald summed up his success across his CEO roles at Starbucks, Pathmark, and Extended Stay Hotels this way: \u201cThe secret of rising in your career is taking care of everybody in the organization first, by giving people credit when they do it correctly, and then by forming relationships on the front line. That\u2019s so critical because, as you climb, it\u2019s easier to have a base of support underneath that pushes you up, rather than trying to pull yourself up as an individual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n What is that quality? It\u2019s not confidence or experience or even decisiveness. The killer behavior behind both hiring and performance success is Reliability<\/strong>. CEOs who are known for being reliable are fifteen times more likely to be high performing, and their odds of getting hired are double those of everyone else.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n When Bill takes the helm of an organization, he rebuilds like an engineer, creating business systems that find and address root problems. He redesigned the structure of CHC, making accountability a top priority. He wanted one personal clearly accountable for each and every business priority. He quickly upgraded the management team, bringing on board a world-class CFO, head of operations, and other executives. With his executive team, he tracked action items relentlessly. The list had 347 items at its peak, which GBill thinned out to 35 as he led the team to more solid footing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A hallmark of reliability is following through on commitments. In the sample we studied, 94 percent of the strongest CEO candidates followed through consistently on their commitments. Research in the field of organizational psychology has found that people who are organized, disciplined, and thorough – that is, people who score high in conscientiousness, one of the five basic personality dimensions – have an increased probability of success in management roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pillars of Reliability<\/strong> are personal consistency, setting realistic expectations, practicing radical personal accountability, and embedding consistency into the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Discover the Thrill of Personal Consistency<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeing consistent creates clear expectations. You want your team to be able to anticipate the first and second questions you ask and have already thought through the answers. You are teaching what you want them to pay attention to. If the budget numbers come back out of whack, you want them to dig into the critical levers on their own. THe moment you are inconsistent twice, there is a new pattern.\u201d Jeff Swartz, the former CEO of Timberland, echoed this sentiment. \u201cIf you want to be serious, then you have to be serious all the time. Because if you\u2019re serious one day and happy the next, people will be confused. They won\u2019t be able to figure out where you\u2019re coming from, and that\u2019ll be threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Habits of Highly Reliable Leaders<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The successful CEOs we meet who understand the critical importance of reliability know that the little stuff matters. They work hard at being reliable in everything they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They proactively shape their commitments to create a situation where they can reliably deliver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wherever you are in your career, you too can shape expectations to ensure reliable delivery. When you\u2019re handed a project, your response shouldn\u2019t be, \u201cOkay, I\u2019ll get to work on it.\u201d Say instead: \u201cHere\u2019s what I\u2019m going to deliver by when. And consider it done. And then make sure you follow through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stand Up and be Counted On <\/strong>The magic comes from the fact that the system itself – the clear steps, deadlines, and measurable outcomes – makes it possible to hold people accountable for results. In our research, CEOs are almost twice as likely to be strong in holding people accountable than the average senior leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scorecard: Simple Reliability Tool<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let Go of the Past<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. They are willing to let go of approaches that have worked before.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/strong>\u201cIf we got kicked out, and the board brought in a new CEO, what would that man do?\u201d Grove asked. Moore didn\u2019t miss a beat: \u201cA new CEO would get Intel out of the memory chip business.\u201d Grove stared at him, numb. \u201cWhy shouldn\u2019t you and I walk out the door, come back, and do it ourselves?\u201d he replied. That\u2019s exactly what they did. They shut down Intel\u2019s memory ch8ip business and pioneered a new market, manufacturing microprocessors, that would increase Intel\u2019s market cap from $4 billion to $197 billion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Margin note: We get out of ILT<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Build an Antenna for the Future<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/u><\/strong>A meaningful glimpse of the future requires more than a three-year strategy document. Brad Smith, the CEO of Intuit, describes an exercise that helped him stretch his time horizon further. Brad and fellow leaders were asked to reflect on a decision or a strategy they wished their predecessors had executed differently ten years earlier to put the company in a better position today. \u201cEveryone had a field day with this portion of the exercise, quickly identifying the \u2018would have, could have, and should haves.\u201d Oh, the benefit of hindsight is a magnificent thing!\u201d recalls Brad. But it was the second part of the exercise that brought the lesson home. They were asked to fast-forward ten years and think about what their successors might with they<\/em> had done differently. \u201cThat shifted my perspective and made me realize that as CEO, things were now different. Beyond the short-term goals of delivering business results, and even the three- to five-year plans, came the responsibility to consider the longer-term implications of everything I was doing today,\u201d says Brad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Use the power of questions. Adding It All Up<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To help you measure where you are today on your path to the top, and to suggest ideas on how to improve, we have created a diagnostic online at www.ceogenome.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Career Catapult #2: The Big Mess<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One tactic for those who feel they\u2019ve been overlooked for the most plum assignments: Take the job no one wants<\/em>. This is the job that one one considers important – until you see and realize the potential to make it amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ve built a strong track record. But how much time are you spending getting to know people who could actually hire you for a CEO job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visibility with the Right People<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Pick your boss. – Don\u2019t guess his or her expectations and preferences<\/strong>. Ask<\/em>. What are her top goals for your work? How does she prefer you communicate with her? And don\u2019t just ask once; priorities shift over time. For example, you mighty turn in a project a day late to double-check the numbers, assuming she expects perfection, while she needed to make a quick decision, even if the data wasn\u2019t perfect yet. A good way to make this conversation less abstract is to ask about the best direct report your boss ever had: What made him or her so great? Some people go to work to please their boss. Others show up at work to get the job done. Neither of those is the same as saying, \u201cHow do I help this individual above me achieve the goals for the enterprise?\u201d That\u2019s the secret to making your superior your sponsor – someone who can introduce you to opportunities or pull you up with him as his star rises in the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Build Your Tribe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Build a bonfire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Visibility in the RIght Way<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Ask for what you want. Here\u2019s where I\u2019m excited to go. Here\u2019s why it will be great for the enterprise and why I\u2019m the right person to do it. I\u2019d love your help if possible.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n To ace an interview, ask not what the interviewer can do for you but what you can do for the interviewer.<\/em> Nothing gives you a greater edge in getting hired than an intimate understanding of the mind of your interviewer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s only one statistically significant variable that both increases the chances you\u2019ll be successful as a CEO. It\u2019s Reliability<\/strong>. No<\/em> other factors overlapped. None at all. Reliably delivering on expectations time after time gives decision makers a sense of safety that you will continue to deliver in the future. Feeling safe makes them more likely to bet on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Become the Happy Warrior<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the 2,600 candidates analyzed by CKaplan and Sorensen, the more likeable leaders had higher odds of getting hired for any<\/em> leadership position. They weren\u2019t necessarily the best of the best, but they were the friendliest of the best. SAS analysts found that highly confident candidates were 2.5 times more likely to be hired. Likeability and confidence impart no advantage in performance, but they definitely help you land the job<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bill Fry exudes the likeability and fonidence of a \u201cHappy Warrior.\u201d The Happy Warrior confidently says, \u201cI love to solve the problems you have. Been there, done that, and liked it. Eager to do it again, for you!\u201d As these leaders talk about their most difficult projects and tough decisions, they exude joy, passion, and energy. In other words, they simultaneously create both emotional and practical safety. You know you\u2019ve met a happy warrior when he or she leaves the room and you can\u2019t wait to put her or him in the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The people who ultimately get picked are those who lead with fierce competence delivered with genuine warmth. <\/em>Good interviewees take a read on the room the moment they walk in and mirror the energy level. They pay close attention to body language to see how their words are landing: Are people’s eyes lighting up? Do they sound hesitant? Are they checking their watches? Your goal is to connect with your audience and make them feel safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may not look anything like the interviewers who will decide whether you get the job. You may not have gone to the same schools or played the same sports. But if you can leave them feeling safer and more energized than you found them, you\u2019ve got a great shot at getting the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Memorable and Relevant<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s another way to put an indelible stamp on your interview: Overinvest in \u201cbookends.\u201d <\/em>Practice your stories before the interview. Know the details you want to tell, especially the \u201cbookends.\u201d The first and final minutes of your interview – how you meet and how you part – are most likely to be remembered. Make them special. Your expression, your voice, your hand gestures all need to telegraph, \u201cI\u2019m right, I\u2019m ready, I won\u2019t let you down!\u201d You are a safe choice, in other words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Set the Agenda<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s who I am. Here are the opportunities for your company today. Here\u2019s what I\u2019m going to do about it.<\/em> That day, they hired him on the spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You have to enter the room knowing what you want them to take away from the conversation. What do you want them to know and remember about you?<\/em> Simply answering their questions leaves too much to chance. Apply your Engage for Impact<\/strong> muscle and think through what you want them to think, feel, and do as a result of the interview. Then build a simple list of three talking points to achieve those goals, with vivid examples for each. If the conversation falters, nudge it in a direction that allows you to speak to one of your topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next chapter then dives into the single most common mistake of new CEOs: failure to quickly get your team in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hazard #1: The Ghouls in the Supply Closet<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The clock is ticking. Anything you bring to light in the first six months in the role will be viewed as what you walked into, setting the baseline. After that, it\u2019s your problem.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hazard #2: Entering Warp Speed<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Calendar Reality Check:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hazard #3: Amplification and the Permanent Spotlight<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your new reality is this: Every move matters. Every gesture is profound. <\/em>Your words are no longer musings, banter, input, or casual thoughts. They are declarations with the power to shape the future. Use them to create the future you want for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ;Hazard #4: It\u2019s a Smartphone, Not a Calculator<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Maybe you\u2019ve seen that old Seinfeld episode where Jerry loses his head because his father will only use his new Wizard organizer as a tip calculator. (Jerry: \u201cIt does other things!\u201d) That phenomenon is not so different when an executive moves into the CEO role – but it\u2019s far more costly. In our review of seventy CEO firings, a fifth of the CEOs were fired because they didn\u2019t use the full set of business levers available to them – the CEO-specific means of influencing outcomes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lever 1: Culture Shaping<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In our advisory work, we are often struck by the contrast between first-time CEOs and the CEOs who are ready to pass the baton after a successful tenure. Many of the retiring CEOs reflect in hindsight that cultural change was by far thee hardest and yet most impactful change they had instilled in the business. They frequently wish they had placed more attention on culture earlier. Even as they prepare to pass the reins, many of them are eager to reinforce the culture and values that they hope will transcend their tenure in the business. Three ways to shape the cultural imprint you leave on the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CEO Myths<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Over nine thousand people of all levels of seniority have taken a self-assessment on CEO Genome Behaviors on our website www.ceogenome.com<\/a> and have found the advice immediately applicable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Chapter 2: Decide: Speed Over Precision<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong> \u201cI noticed that the successful CEOs were willing to make decisions with only eighty percent of the information\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/u>1. Look back. Make mistakes your laboratory.
<\/strong> SAS research pointed to a tangible benefit of not dwelling on the concept of failure: CEO candidates who used the word failure <\/em>in talking about their mistakes were half as likely to deliver a strong performance in the seat as CEOs who did not.
2. Look inward. Condition your mind for decisiveness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, he came to every decision with a clear mind. And second, whenever critics unsettled him, he reminded himself that they were focused on the present, not the future. He believed the benefits would become clear in time. \u201cPeople who were really angry with me the first two years now understand our journey,\u201d he told us recently. \u201cTime is the greatest leveler.\u201d (Of course, that\u2019s especially true when you\u2019ve made the right decision.)
Ashley\u2019s use of a forward-looking view to stay the course reminded us of the \u201c10\/10\/10 technique\u201d that Chip and Dan Heath recount in their book Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work<\/em>. \u201cImagine how you will feel about a decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years,\u201d they write. Gaining distance from the pressing decision at hand helps you approach it more rationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Doug told us three ways that MOPs helped advise him in ways that his employees couldn\u2019t. First, because they were outsiders, he had to bring them up to speed on the issue at hand in simple, clear language. Sometimes just that step of the process revealed to him a new answer or a flaw in his logic. Second, despite being outsiders, they often had information or perspective that offered insights to the issue at hand. And finally, because these outsiders knew him personally, they were terrific sources of \u201csoft\u201d advice. They asked questions that most colleagues would never dare to ask, such as, \u201cIs this direction in line with your values?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Chapter 3: Engage for Impact: Orchestrate Stakeholders to Drive Results<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Chapter 4: Relentless Reliability: Deliver Consistently<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/u>4. Build the machinery of consistent process.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Chapter 5: Adapt Boldly: Ride the Discomfort of the Unknown<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong> \u201cYou must get underneath what they are telling you. Here\u2019s what you do,\u201d he said. \u201cFirst, pay attention. Let them get about halfway into something they really think is important and then interrupt. Ask: \u2018Wait, tell my why you think that is important?\u2019 That forces them to back up and describe the assumptions, the facts, and the logic. Second, beware the declarative statement. When someone makes a point as if it [is] a fact, by saying: \u2018Everyone knows that\u2026\u2019 or \u2018We all agree that\u2026\u2019 stop them and say, \u2018Wait, do you have data to back that up?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Section 2: Get to the Top: Win Your Dream Job
Chapter 6: Fast-Track Your Future<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Chapter 7: Stand Out: How to Become Known<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong> No one has more control over your visibility and success in an organization than your boss.
– Understand your boss\u2019s goals. <\/strong>What does success look like to her? How does your role fit into that? How can you best support her? What are her career goals? What motivates her? Know which individuals in the organization are most important to your boss, and look for ways to get her noticed by them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
– Let your boss help you<\/strong>. Keep your boss looped into your career goals, and connect your interests to the organization\u2019s. You want to keep these at the top of your boss\u2019s mind so that when your boss is in a meeting and your dream assignment is mentioned, your boss has both the knowledge and motivation to say, \u201cYou know who would be great for that\u2026\u201d and name you. On the other hand, if your boss hears you\u2019re considering a job opportunity in another division without consulting her first, you can turn a fan into a critic overnight. People who see themselves as being invested in your success want to be consulted and involved in your important career moves.
– Master the regular update on the things that matter<\/strong>. Send a focused update on where you are on your boss\u2019s top priorities with respect to your work. The appropriate time frame and medium for these updates will vary depending on your boss, company, role, etc., but the consistency shouldn\u2019t. The message to get across is: I understand what\u2019s important to you and to the business. I\u2019m on top of it. You can count on me.
<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>How you ask for what you want is at least as important as whom you ask. Your tone must be that of aspiration, not desperation. The first common mistake is coming to sponsors with problems rather than requests. The management refrain \u201cDon\u2019t bring me problems – bring me solutions\u201d applies equally to enlisting sponsorship. If you want sympathy, go to a friend. If you are going to a sponsor, make requests, not complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Chapter 8: Close the Deal<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Section 3: Get Results: Navigate the Challenges of the Role
Chapter 9: The Five Hidden Hazards at the Top<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>Chapter 10: Not Just Any Team – Your Team<\/h1>\n\n\n\n