What are The Requirements to Be a CEO?
Beverly Lieberman,
President
Halbrecht Lieberman Associates
Boards of Directors who hire CEO's generally answer
“experience”. They seek
candidates who have similar industry experience, come out of companies of comparable
/or larger in size, have positive Wall Street/investor relations experience,
have a "vision", leadership skills and a demonstrated ability to
build an effective team. Educational credentials are usually required as well.
While all the above are important, an often unstated but vitally important
element in the selection of successful candidates is their
perceived "fitness" for taking on the key assignment. Senior
executive positions are difficult. They require long hours, intense focus, lots
of travel, challenging business obstacles to deal with, etc. All of this cause
mental and physical stress with its associated wear and tear.
While all agree that it is not appropriate to select candidates based on
physical impressions, my experience in the many executive searches I have
conducted is that the winning candidate has the “image" of energy,
drive and the ability to withstand the work load. In the recruiting process,
the Board members are curious to discover if the candidate has a routine work
out program, plays tennis, jogs, golfs, etc. Of course, an executive's physical
appearance gets noticed right away. While it is not legally appropriate that a
candidate gets turned down because of physical attributes, the leaders of
Fortune 500 companies most often possess "executive bearing", which
implies an advantage to being physically fit and not significantly over weight.
Is physical appearance/fitness widely considered an indicator of potential
success? While none of us want to admit it, the answer is a resounding
"yes". We have historically looked up to people who are "tall
and slim". Just think about it for a moment... look at the example of U.S.
Presidents...JKF, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and the George
Bush's. These men were/are all about 6' tall and trim. While talented
executives will not all have the benefit of the perfect physical appearance, it
is important to make a conscious effort to maximize your physical impact. This
includes managing your physical fitness, your weight and paying close attention
to your wardrobe in order to package yourself for success.
Hand
in hand with physical fitness goes emotional and psychological fitness. The
ability to focus, handle pressure, deal with complexity and ambiguity and
multiple demands all cause stress. How does an executive deal with these
issues? I find it very often the case that top executives have learned to use
relaxation techniques such as meditation, short naps, walks and visual imagery
to help out during working hours. Some executives make use of a coach or
mentor. Some seek support, quietly, from psychologists. No matter which
technique works best, it seems the case that it is imperative to utilize some
resources to help minimize or relieve the stress.
There is a major theme today that will become increasingly prominent in the
years ahead-- it is "work/life balance". The most advanced
corporations have initiated Human Resource programs that promote this goal and
help teach employees ways to achieve balance. These corporations are discovering
the benefits of increased human performance and preservation of critical human
resources.
And in order to attract the best candidates, I suggest that the Boards of
Directors and top executives embrace the benefits of work and life balance and not
only be supportive but be willing to act as role models. Young and middle age
executives no longer plan to work 12 to 16 hours a day on an ongoing basis in
order to advance their careers. Many executives are opting out of this. Some
are even turning down promotions and relocations. Some are working flex hours
and even staying home with the kids and letting their spouse take over the
income earning roles. Creating a culture of fitness and performance will give a
corporation an edge over those who focus on traditional methods.
We need to acknowledge that, in addition to experience, health and fitness are
important elements to getting “the big job”. They are also critical
elements in the success of an executive and the organization he or she leads.
So, if you are not on a fitness for success program, get one started. It's a
major factor in your success, your company's and your family's.