We asked five of our seasoned coaches to reveal their favorite tips for getting out of CEO overwhelm. They also shared the best mindset for driving growth during uncertain times and what they don’t tell you about being the CEO. Read on for their insights and reach out to schedule a complimentary session with the battle-tested coach who has the perspective you connect with the most.
My hard-won tips for combatting CEO overwhelm are…
“Take a step back and think clearly about where you are going. Outline 3-5 HOTs (Huge Outrageous Tasks) to create a map on where you want to go and then prioritize your time so that you can accomplish your goals. When you are only working on the most important things, you will feel less overwhelmed.”
– Meghan Watkins
“Identify the things that only you, as the CEO, can do. Delegate away or ask for volunteers to accomplish everything else on your list. This is a great way to empower rising stars, build trust, and engagement and provide skill-building opportunities within your team.” – Angela M. Korompilas
“Three things: 1) Prioritize your health 2) Invest in the best people you can find 3) Celebrate small successes.” – Aakash Shah
“Quit allowing the tyranny of the urgent to rule your life.
Quit feeling alone and ask your team and company for help.
Quit believing you are the one only person on the planet to solve this problem.
Quit staying the extra hour every day. It. Doesn’t. Matter.
Quit making each day life and death. The sun will rise tomorrow.
And quit neglecting those who love you most.” – Shep Moyle
“Set your priorities and stay with them, focus on those elements of your business that need CEO focus and rely on your team for the rest.” – Frank de Jong
The best mindset for driving growth during uncertain times is…
“As Ted Lasso says, ‘Believe.’ You must believe in the future, in your team, in yourself, and in your plan. Believe that ‘we’ can do it. If you truly believe, magic will occur.” – Shep Moyle
“Issues don’t often age well – face them head on.” – Frank de Jong
“Have confidence in your business and the value that your product/service provides. Be ready to invest, but also set your expectations that your return could take longer than targeted during uncertain times.” – Aakash Shah
“Perseverance. There are always winners – even during the most challenging of times.Set your mind to be one of them. Establish clear boundaries for investments and timelines for pilot programs, then learn and iterate until you achieve the success you desire.” – Angela M. Korompilas
“Prioritize hard work, reflect on your actions and what you learned, learn from mistakes, deal with failure quickly and embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.” – Meghan Watkins
The thing they don’t tell you about being CEO is…
“People want to be inspired, take the opportunity to make an impact on hundreds (if not thousands) of lives.” –Aakash Shah
“Don’t try to be the one with all the answers. You’ll learn more, teach more, and build stronger teams by asking great questions.” –Angela M. Korompilas
“It can be lonely at the top – who’s your sounding board and trusted advisor who you can confide in?” –Frank de Jong
“Even though you surround yourself with great people, being the boss can be isolating. You have to make unpopular decisions and let go of good people who are not growing with the company for whatever reason. You have to resist the urge to share everything with your team. The loneliness becomes more manageable if you have a coach you trust to share your worries, frustrations, and challenges.” –Meghan Watkins
“It is never enough.
No matter what you achieve, you will always want one dollar more.
No matter the acclaim you receive, you will seek one more award.
No matter how tall the mountain you climb, you will seek the next higher mountain.
Learn to enjoy the climb. The mountaintops are never ending.” – Shep Moyle
About CEO Coaching International
CEO Coaching International works with CEOs and their leadership teams to achieve extraordinary results quarter after quarter, year after year. Known globally for its success in coaching growth-focused entrepreneurs to meaningful exits, CEO Coaching International has coached more than 1,000 CEOs and entrepreneurs in more than 60 countries and 45 industries. The coaches at CEO Coaching International are former CEOs, presidents, or executives who have made BIG happen. The firm’s coaches have led double-digit sales and profit growth in businesses ranging in size from startups to over $10 billion, and many are founders that have led their companies through successful eight, nine, and ten-figure exits. Companies working with CEO Coaching International for two years or more have experienced an average revenue CAGR of 31% (2.6X the U.S. average) and an average EBITDA CAGR of 52.3% (more than 5X the U.S. average).
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