But, over the past decade of helping CEOs, I’ve come to realize that coaching a CEO can be as perplexing as it is rewarding.
The role of a CEO adviser is unique because the role of the CEO is unique. MOST advisers have complimentary relationships with their clients, breathing the same air, grappling with the same challenges. In business, no air is as rarefied, and no challenges are as complex, as at the top. I watch CEOs becoming increasingly beleaguered under pressure from boards, investors, special interest groups, the press, and politicians. For many, the job is all consuming.
Consider these distinctions of the job:
Even the best-of-the-best CEOs have their blind spots and can dramatically improve their performance with an outside perspective weighing in. Just remember that if you find yourself in the role of advising a CEO - never forget the extreme pressure and issues they carry. It’s best to have walked a mile in those shoes before you offer opinions with no real insight.
Michael is an executive coach, entrepreneur, investor, and strategist with 30 years of experience leading investor-backed, high-growth organizations.
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