“There are many potential leaders out there who simply lack the self-belief and toolkit to begin their own journey to the top” (Nyimpini Mabunda, Take Charge; life lessons on the road to CEO).
Every employee should adopt the CEO mentality. One would think this statement is very much self-explanatory, but it goes a lot further and deeper than that.
It is not only about how you should think or how you should act, but it is about WHO you should BE when no one sees you – one should adopt a selfless mindset who does not expect recognition, but who can constantly change and influence the company, its staff, stakeholders, and the world around for the better. In other words, one should be the change that you want to see and experience.
If you see a problem, find a solution
Discuss the problem - if need be - with your peers and/or (line) manager and try to produce a solution that will help resolve the problem and change it into an opportunity.
It does not matter whether you think it is a good idea or not, or potentially even doubt yourself. Be innovative, be bold, and have the courage to share your thoughts and ideas. The solution you come up with might not be relevant or work for now, but just maybe, it could be a breakthrough solution for the future! Be an Elon Musk; think big. All opinions and suggestions and valued.
EVERY employee (from the cleaner to the MD) is part of the “Sales Team” of a company
This philosophy is the exact reason why some companies are so successful; all their employees are accountable for sales. Every employee should take responsibility for sales, as everyone has family members, friends, and acquaintances, which all represent opportunities to win new clients over. The attitude of “that is not my job” should be avoided. If everyone is willing to do a little bit of everything (help wherever they can), the positives are infinite:
- Everyone will learn and have a better understanding (continuous growth)
- If you have a better understanding, you can advance your career faster
- Stronger connections within the company shall be fostered (teamwork)
- Client relationships shall become stronger
Take Initiative, Be Innovative, and Pursue Business Growth Planning & Execution
Share ideas. Rethink traditional business practices. Provide value for our clients. Create new ideas, solutions, and products for clients. Set aside some time to discuss the company’s business strategy with your (line) manager. You should always be supportive of new initiatives and ideas, foster new solutions, and be part of the team to make your company grow and expand continuously and exponentially.
Consider Business Budgets / Forecasts / Cashflow
Make time to understand the company’s financial status and what we aim for in terms of (sales) targets and other goals. You should demonstrate a genuine interest in the company’s budget statistics; if it is a bad year, be eager to help the company achieve (or exceed) the budget by creating solutions to remedy the situation. If all employees help the company to excel financially, the company will help its staff to excel financially.
“Take Accountability – Don’t Pass the Bucket”
If there is one thing that many people excel in, it is the entrenched attitude of “this is not my job”. Unfortunately, it is not just a mentality nowadays, but every so often you can hear employees saying the words out loud as if to make a thorough statement. This attitude cannot be tolerated; if you have the company’s best interest at heart, you should always try to assist clients/colleagues/stakeholders wherever possible, whether it is your job or not.
Understand your Company Environment challenges
If you do not understand the challenges that your company is facing constantly (whether it be legislative, HR-related, the changing environment, etc.), you won’t be able to support your company with new initiatives and ideas, nor will you be able to understand the decisions that have to be taken for the “greater good”. If all employees have a better understanding of the company and its environment, there shall be less confusion and negativity. Everyone should be well-informed in order to be proactive and positive.
Plan through Continuous Learning
If you haven’t learned anything new in the past month, you are bound to stay behind in your career. Make sure you learn new skills or gain knowledge about your company, your job, or the products/services that your company sells. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are continuously getting smarter and better-informed. You will gain the trust of your colleagues and your clients if you know what you are talking about. Never say “I don’t know” – rather say “ I don’t know but let me find out”. Never say “I can’t help you” – rather say “Let me see what I can do”. Remember, a prerequisite for getting promoted or becoming a successor is that you gained the knowledge to handle that position with confidence.
Unlearn Traditional Business Models
We are sometimes so set in our ways, that we seem to struggle to understand that there might be an easier or better way instead of just doing things the way they’ve always been done. At this point, I personally feel that this is where we (the older generation) should tap in and learn from the younger generation on how to work faster and smarter. The younger generation is often much more adaptable and can easily relate and adjust to sudden changes without being stubborn and refusing to do things differently. If the younger employees of a company do not take charge and help the older employees to adjust (or teach/motivate them how to adapt), it might cause unnecessary problems for employees and the company eventually.
Be the change you want to see in your company
If you can add value or provide input that can help a colleague or the company to grow or be better (I’m not merely referring to only sales and clients here, but also to morale, ethics, and other soft skills), don’t wait or stay silent. Your input can make an important difference for some or all of your colleagues. Everyone should learn from each other, support one another, give guidance to each other, and ultimately take care of each other. If everyone truly cares, there will be nothing that can stop the company from reaching infinite heights, and with that emotional and financial freedom for its employees.
Grow or stay behind
Your colleagues cannot run the race on your behalf or carry you over the finish line. You must run this race by your own efforts. If you fail, it is entirely your own fault. You are not entitled to anything – work for what you want to achieve in your life.
Act like the CEO
Talk like the CEO
Think like the CEO
Plan like the CEO
BE THE CEO !!!
I sincerely believe that every employee can help build a company with a team so strong that outsiders will wonder who the actual CEO is.
Yolande Jansen Van Vuuren ǀ Business Unit Head: Sales ǀ Minet Namibia
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