Step Into the CEO Role

Your business is your baby, so it's only natural that as it grows, you gravitate towards spending so much time working IN the biz, rather than ON it. But when you do that, you neglect all of the business tasks that move your business forward.

One of the things I LOVE about working with my consulting clients is seeing them finally step into being the CEO (rather than the COE - Chief of Everything!)

So how do you go about stepping into the CEO role? Here are three areas you can focus on that can help you build the right foundations...

Developing the Right Mindset

Mindset plays such a massive part in how we act and interact in the world, and also how we choose to run our businesses.

The following are a few ways that you can develop a mindset of success:

1. Focus on the Future

When you focus on the future, you're more likely to prepare for it. What big clients do you want to go after as your business grows? What's your BIG picture vision for your biz? Who would be in your dream team?

Visualising these things can play a massive part in setting you up to win.

2. Think about Your Strengths and Weaknesses

A good leader isn't scared to admit that they might have weaknesses in the areas of communication, leadership, sales, or wherever. Recognising your weaknesses - and also your strengths - helps you to build a well-rounded and balanced team when it comes to hiring.

3. Be Open to Feedback

Ask for feedback and take it in. Listening - and taking action - on feedback from clients, peers, and members of our team is one of the most effective ways to grow as individuals and as leaders. 

Want to know more about developing a CEO mindset? I wrote more about this a while back...

Set Goals and Track Your Progress

It's important to set goals for yourself and track your progress. When you do this, you can adjust your methods based on what is or isn't working. You can also see if there are any gaps in your system that might need to be addressed.

Different goal structures work for different people... some people prefer the short, sharp action-taking that comes with 30-day goals. Others prefer seeing the longer-term results of working to a 1-year plan.

The key is to find what works for you... and stick with it. Review your progress regularly. Make sure your team's goals align with yours and the business goals.

(I also love this article to identify some of the most common pitfalls when setting goals - and how you can avoid them!)

Staying Calm Under Pressure

The business world is a competitive one. It takes a lot to stay calm and collected when you're constantly being put under pressure. So it makes sense that business owners who are able to maintain their composure under the toughest of circumstances will be more likely to succeed than those that can't.

Over the years I've found the best way for me to remain cool, calm and collected (even when the pressure's on) is to make time for me. When I'm relaxed and prioritising self-care, I naturally perform at my best in all areas of my life.

I've talked a bit about how I achieve work/life balance through self-care but it looks a little different for everyone. Find the things that bring you some peace of mind outside of work and carve out non-negotiable time every day/week/month to do them.

Over to you

Which of these areas will you work on to take that little bit closer to stepping into the CEO role? Let me know in the comments below! 

Selina Johnson — Business Support Expert, solution seeker and freedom fixer — helps successful coaches, consultants, speakers and entrepreneurs from across the globe to scale their businesses, make more money and achieve faster, sustainable results without compromising their time. 

Over the past 16 years, she’s supported high profile individuals like award-winning architect Dame Zaha Hadid DBE, Sunday Times Top 20 Most Influential Entrepreneurs In The UK Sháá Wasmund MBE, former Co-Director of the Serpentine Gallery Dame Julia Peyton-Jones DBE, and Russian billionaire Timur Sardarov.

Today, she teaches brilliant entrepreneurs just like you how to implement her simple methods that result in BIG wins in their businesses — including the dynamite delegation strategies, time management hacks and mindset mastery she’s used to halve her hours, double her income and ditch her commute, leaving her free to create and live the life she loves.