CEO Job Description

I can still remember long ago (well, not that long ago) that I was a first time CEO and wanted a clear description of the job I had agreed to do. I found a listing called “CEO Standards of Performance” and it was useful. I posted it on my wall for many years and referenced it often. Then it went into my “ Book of Leadership Wisdom” binder, where I’ve referenced it now.

This 30 year old list has none of the business buzzwords we all use today, but the words are plain, clear, and crisp.

1. Planning: Overall company strategy, Strategic Plan, Operational Plan
2. Organization: Organization chart; Job descriptions, Authority levels
3. Management recruitment and development: Succession planning, in-house training, outside training, promotion from within, human resource plan, new positions, active recruiting
4. Policy: Corporate policies, new policies, management input, review
5. Standards of performance and performance reviews: Standards of performance, performance reviews, performance improvement plans
6. Controls: Monthly reports, quarterly reviews, supplemental action programs
7. Management morale: Involvement in planning, salary discussions, access to CEO, management turnover
8. Product development: Overall strategy, quarterly priority meetings, status reports, new products, development expense
9. Community relations: public relations, community participation
10. Profitability and growth: Profit objectives, results compared to industry, sales objectives, dependency on single product/customer, market share, profitability by product line
11. Relationship with board of directors: Communications, Reports by executive managers, Board complaints, CEO job description and standards.