Being a CEO: Core Values and Skills, Duties and Responsibilities

Student:
Professor:
Course title:
Date
Introduction
The position of the Chief Executive Officer is the topmost in any organization. This position is associated with the privileged lifestyle and a hefty salary. There is however, another side of the coin which involves the actual job and responsibilities that come with this position. The C.E.O of any organization is the face through which the public views the organization. The C.E.O. carries the organization in his/her shoulders so that he or she takes responsibility for the on goings within the organization. In this paper, the position of Chief Executive Officer has been demystified. Among the issues discussed include the roles and responsibilities that come with this position and what skills are required to hold the topmost position in an organization.
Core Values and Skills
In order for one to rise to the position of a Chief Executive Officer, there are certain core skills that one must possesses. There are no specific values that are must have for one to qualify to be CEO. However, there are certain values that are considered basic for one to have in order to become a successful CEO. Being at the helm of the organization, a C.E.O. must have leadership skills (Dawson, 2010). The entire organization will often look up to the top management for guidance especially in times of crisis. Chief executive officers must therefore have an aspect of leadership.
It is also important for one to be decisive. Chief Executive Officers are sometimes expected to make very tough decisions. In some cases, these decisions have to be made under a lot of pressure and within a short period of time (Fox, 2010). Making a wrong decision will have an effect on the entire organization including the employees in the organization. A person in this position must therefore carefully weigh the options available and make the decision that is most beneficial to the organization.
It is also crucial for a C.E.O to be one who consults from time to time. Accepting that nobody has a monopoly of ideas and that sometimes helps from others is needed is important. Chief Executive Officers will from time to time need help and advise from other members in the management. A C.E.O with a listening ear will accommodate the opinions and thoughts of others and together they can arrive at a favorable decision.
Duties and Responsibilities
Strategy setting is one of the main duties of a chief executive officer. All organizations have a vision and mission. In order to realize the vision and mission of the organization, there must be a vision bearer. That is the sole responsibility of the chief executive officer and he or she must do justice for the vision to be a realized (Dawson, 2010). This is done through coming up with practical strategy that will outline how to execute the vision and mission of the organization. It is also through proper strategy that a C.E.O will provide direction that the organization will take. CEOs are the flag bearers and pilots of their organization and they must remain at the forefront of their organizations. Although realization of the goals, values and vision of the organization cannot be done solely, it is the C.E.O who bears the largest responsibility in the implementati...