What Do CEOs Do All Day?
A Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the highest-ranking person in a business entity. They’re responsible for the overall growth and success of the company. They make top-level managerial decisions. They gather all the inputs and serve as the ultimate authority in making decisions. CEOs may have other titles, such as managing director, chief executive, and president.
The CEO is accountable to, and reports directly to, the board of directors regarding the performance of a business entity. The board of directors is a group of individuals who represent the shareholders of a company. The CEO sits on the board and often serves as chairperson.
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What Are The Duties Of The CEO?
Besides the company's overall success, CEOs develop and implement long-term strategies to increase shareholder value.
The duties of CEOs vary from one organization to another, often depending on its size and structure. In smaller business entities, the CEO takes a “hands-on” approach, such as making lower-level managerial decisions, including hiring employees. They deal with high-level business strategy and decision-making in large corporations by delegating tasks to other departments and managers.
There’s no standard list of duties for a CEO. However, the typical job description of a chief executive officer includes:
Developing strategic goals and direction: The chief executive officer devises new policies and plans to bring their vision to reality. They make it easier for the board of directors and employees to understand business growth expectations by setting clear objectives and goals.
Executing proposed plans and policies: A CEO directs the overall strategic direction by developing effective policies aligned with their short and long-term goals. It’s their responsibility to communicate their approach across the organization to ensure that its operations align with its overarching strategy, with the ultimate goal of increasing shareholder value, maximizing profits, and improving market position.
Public relations: The CEO is seen as the face of the organization, making them an obligatory marketing tool. As the primary representative, CEOs need to set an example of behavior, with their public actions and values significantly affecting company reputation.
Communicating with the board of directors: The board of directors can either become a CEO’s ally or the cause of their dismissal. Just as the CEO must communicate expectations to staff members, they must inform the board of directors of crucial and sometimes challenging business decisions through frequent board meetings. Transparency in communication between the CEO and the board is imperative, as is honesty.
Monitoring company performance: An executive understanding of the organization’s performance relative to the competition is a fundamental aspect of the CEO’s role. They derive actionable insights from gross profit margins, revenue growth, and cumulative sales. These shape key performance indicators to guide necessary changes and help the organization meet its new targets. Further, assessing the market - whether that involves significant regulatory developments or potential acquisitions in the industry - is essential in helping the organization withstand external forces and meet its long-term goals.
Establishing a working culture: From senior executives to managers to interns, everyone looks up to the chief executive officer to a certain degree. Building a healthy working culture involves leading by example. By demonstrating the working behavior and attitudes you expect from others, a CEO can gain respect while motivating other employees to reciprocate and exhibit the same work attitudes. In addition, a healthy working environment should align with company visions, values, and goals. With a positive working culture and a clear set of company goals and values, a CEO can drive consistent and high-performance levels across the entire organization.
Final Thoughts
Typically, a CEO’s primary responsibilities include making important business decisions, managing the overall resources and operations of a corporation, and serving as the principal point of communication between corporate operations and the board of directors. Frequently, the CEO also serves as the public face of the organization.