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All leaders have different ideas about what ‘makes’ a professional worthy of the top spot. Some believe that you’re either simply born with the natural ability to lead or you aren’t, whilst others believe that the past to leadership never ends, and all professionals should continue to strive for greatness as they progress through the corporate world.
Yet, not everyone is capable of being a CEO. There are those that thrive in the role, and those who are simply overwhelmed by the job. So, what divides one from the other? Well according to Doug McMillon, President and CEO of American retail giant Walmart, becoming the CEO of a big company starts with these three steps.
Top talent | Best performing CEOs in the world
“Get today’s job right”
According to McMillon, there’s no alternative to simply focussing on what is in front of you right now. He says that too often, CEOs are stuck considering the future, with all of its variables. You can’t control what’s going to happen tomorrow, but you can control what’s happening now, and ensure that today sets tomorrow up to be as successful as it possibly can be.
“Be a great teammate”
McMillon believes that believing too much in the hierarchy of the business is a surefire way to fail. He deems that all employees need to be the concern of the CEO, and that they should view themselves as simply another member of the company’s collective team. By being a good teammate to their colleagues, CEOs can build trust and a culture of collaboration within their business. CEOs who refuse to interact as much as possible with staff and instead focus solely on the bottom line miss the significant details that keep a company happy and productive.
