In today’s dynamic world, correct implementation is the only way to succeed and it is an executive who actually puts plans into actions. In any organization, big or small, CEOs are responsible for carrying out various strategies. They are the key personnel who have to balance the top to bottom and bottom to top effects.
“The Five Temptations of a CEO” by Patrick Lencioni states the five temptations towards which a CEO is inclined. They can be briefly stated as following:
Status over Results — By the course of the designation, a CEO is bent to devote more time to build and maintain status than to achieve goals. One has to remember that howsoever good the image is, if the outcome is not good enough, there will be no value of the status or it can be lost at all.
Popularity over Accountability — This refers to CEOs refraining from giving negative feedback in direct reports so that their popularity will not be harmed. Whereas feedback should be provided, and no matter positive or negative it serves to improve performance of an individual.
Certainty over Clarity – Sometimes it may take time to make a decision. What the CEOs are tempted to do is to go ahead with something even if more clarity is required. Ideally, clarity should be the focal point to make a decision.
Harmony over Conflict – Though tempted to keep harmonious atmosphere, a CEO should work upon constructive conflict of ideas and opinions. This means that maintaining a friendly environment of agreement can lead to ideas suppress ion.
Invulnerability over Trust — CEOs often go the extra mile to prove that they are correct. An ideal CEO would be open to learning and let trust take the lead.
I would like to quote my uncle John, who is currently a CEO in a small scale sector unit. While I was discussing this book with him, he shared his own experiences. He said that some time ago he was an egoist and status-focused leader but after reading this book, he changed and became a successful leader with no ego clashes. His main focus shifted to work accomplishment.
It can be derived that if all of the above is kept in mind, we are able to prosper in business by achieving the best possible results, creating an effective workforce, building an efficient decision making power, brainstorming and gaining trust.
Also, reading this book, I observed that the temptations above do not concern only CEOs but everyone in general. If in the daily life, we are able to avoid the basic mistakes of being guided by our ego, deciding things at random, focusing only on our reputation and not pointing people on their mistakes, we will be able to live a better life.