While preparing to review a CEO, the chairman of a board I worked with said, “He doesn’t lead; he just presides!” It was a brilliant description of a CEO who was loved by his people but ineffective in his role.
It’s about balance. Lest I get off on the wrong foot, I passionately believe that leaders must foster rewarding environments that are honest, fun, and supportive. They also must develop a culture that creates commitment and alignment.
And…they need to set direction, make the hard decisions, speak assertively, and eliminate or punish bad behavior. It isn’t about fairness, and they shouldn’t award mere participation. Business isn’t third grade. CEO’s need to be supportive, but they need a strong hand on the steering wheel.
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