The Worst American CEO's of All Time and You

I just read CNBC's list of The Worst American CEO's of All Time (www.CNBC.com) . While the success or failure of a company is not the result of just one factor, it's worth evaluating who the CEO was at the time of it's decline.You can read the list for yourself, but here are a  few characteristics that described these individuals:

  • "a consumate self promoter"
  • "alienating executives, downplaying customer service, refusing to cut a fat pay package"
  • "blinded by success"
  • "tyrannical and would fire and then rehire his executives to break their self esteem"
  • "in over his head. Lack of decisiveness"
  • "talk about an out of touch leader"
  • "complete package of a bad CEO: Dishonest, disastrously inept"
  • "abrasive personality"

Wow. How would you like for someone to characterize you like these individuals were?

But if the truth were known, most of us either see ourselves or characterize ourselves in some of the same ways. We are our own worst critics. To be candid about myself, I am abrasive at times, inept in some things (and try not to show it), alienate those closest to me, out of touch, rude, think of myself more highly than I should, and on and on I could go. So, I rank myself as the worst CEO of me. 

So, if there is a list of the Worst American CEO's of all time, what would be the characteristics for the Best American CEO's of all time? And if I am the worst CEO of me, what does it take to be the best CEO of me?

May I suggest the first step for me becoming a better CEO of me? It starts with "You're fired!" I think the best CEO of a company (and for me), starts with a good dose of humility. What about you? Any suggestions about being a better CEO for a company? Or a better CEO of you?

rb

Some have already seen this 5 minute video but since it's Christmas and the holiday season, enjoy.

Posted on Thu, December 9, 2010 by Ron Beasley filed under

4 comments (Add your own)

1. dale neikirk wrote:
This blog is stimulating me in a way which inspires me. My response is built on a framework of human needs which are largely undervalued in our world. There isn't space here for an explanation of my point, so at the risk of misunderstanding I will use the term needs from the level of understanding i have, which is still limited at age 63.

The best CEO:

A consummate promoter of the values and needs of all persons the CEO encounters.

Ergo, values the needs of all employees, customers, and self such that the CEO balances pay with value.

envisions success for all

fiercely values and supports the esteem of all

prefers the belly over the head for decisive progress.

Knows when and how to touch the needs of all

Direct, open, and honest. Values own ineptitude by surrounding self with those who have strengths to offset personal ineptitude. Extends that same balance by knowing and valuing the ineptitude of others with a team seeking overall strength without condescension.

Knows when to, and extends amends when personal abrasiveness manifests itself.

Fri, December 10, 2010 @ 8:34 PM

2. wrote:
Wow, thanks Dale. Outstanding thoughts.

Sat, December 11, 2010 @ 5:41 AM

3. Gordon Amini wrote:
Good comment from Dale.

I don't understand the relationship between needs of employees and value of employees?

"Ergo, values the needs of all employees, customers, and self such that the CEO balances pay with value."

Sat, December 11, 2010 @ 10:05 AM

4. Mark Hafner wrote:
Ron,
I probably fire myself once a week. I make an effort to sit down with my leadership team at least once a month to celebrate our strengths but also to address the areas we can do better at. We direct the conversation to our mission and values and test our actions against those. We have a scoreboard and a plan for improvement. Sometimes it does not go as quickly as we all want. It is a never ending process but like anything in life the effort brought forward will in the end improve you. Just like our triathlon training. :)

Sat, December 11, 2010 @ 10:13 AM

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The Worst American CEO's of All Time and You