As a founder of a company and its CEO, I think every entrepreneur probably comes to a point where they are wondering what exactly their responsibilities are:

Am I an entrepreneur or a CEO?  Or both?

I don’t think most entrepreneurs think of themselves as CEOs.  CEOs are professional managers…it’s a job.  Entrepreneurs are visionaries that start things from scratch, create value, and move on.  Of course these are stereotypes, but every entrepreneur carries their own expectations and skills into their role, and it they may not always be what are best for the company.

I think that a book I read recently by Patrick Lencioni titled The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable helps clarify the responsibilities of any leader, and gives me a new sense of clarity about my role (or at least a significant portion of my role) at my company.  The following is a brief summary of the points in the book:

 

  1. Build and maintain a cohesive leadership team
    1. Knowing one another’s unique strengths and weaknesses
    2. Openly engaging in constructive conflict
    3. Holding one another accountable for behaviors and actions
    4. Committing to decisions once they are made

 

  1. Create organization clarity
    1. Why the organization exists
    2. Which behavioral values are fundamental
    3. What specific business we are in
    4. Who our competitors are
    5. How we are unique
    6. What our goals are
    7. Who is responsible for what

 

  1. Over-communicate organizational clarity
    1. Repetition
    2. Simplicity
    3. Multiple mediums
    4. Cascading messages

 

  1. Reinforce organizational clarity through human systems
    1. Hiring process
    2. Managing performance
    3. Rewards and recognition
    4. Employee dismissal

     

The book is an interesting and quick read.  Like his other books, it’s told in the form of a fable and does a nice job getting its points across.  I’d recommend it highly to anyone that finds themself in the position of running a company or a large team.

 

MRC