CEOs are viewed as the rock starts of their company. But with great reputation comes great responsibility and having the most important job means handling and balancing all aspects of this the role like duties, background, personal life (family, friends), the team, and vision.

DUTIES

“I think as a company, if you can get those two things right — having a clear direction on what you are trying to do and bringing in great people who can execute on the stuff — then you can do pretty well.” – Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook (News - Alert)

It is known that people occupying the highest rank in a company are directly responsible for the success of their organization and for making top-level managerial decisions. As a result, someone in this position should be well aware of his/her duties and the impact their decisions have on everyone involved. And most CEOs simplify their roles and their approach focusing on effectiveness. And a specific practice used by many is to be the ‘walking vision’. This means to become the personification of the company’s vision. When you become an example for others while being aware of the meaning of your actions, you excel in everything you do.

“You don’t need to be in the top three of your class. Being in the middle is fine, as long as your grades aren’t too bad. Only this kind of person [a middle-of-the-road student] has enough free time to learn other skills.” Jack Ma, Alibaba Group

We constantly hear that leading a business is the most difficult job in the world. But it doesn’t say anywhere that chief executives must have a college degree or an MBA. Still, there are those who make it to the top of the corporate ladder without some sort of formal education. Or others that simply apply to courses that will teach them the ropes of a business, an example being Earn2Trade. It’s true that an academic background helps an individual develop as it is a time to think, interact and share ideas with others - valuable experiences for any CEO.

But apart from a proper education, a leader must have a great deal of experience in the company's field. It is mandatory because the ability to work with people is the answer to a booming organization. Through experience you start having a good understanding of people, the business and you learn how to maintain effective relationships.

PERSONAL LIFE

“As a wife, daughter, friend, and the founder and CEO of LearnVest, my schedule is anything but simple. But I learned early on how to meticulously manage my time.” Alexa Von Tobel, LearnVest.

Balancing work and personal life becomes the most challenging part to master. A top job doesn’t come easy, and lines between work and home are often blurred. Chief Executive Officers are in charge of a variety of tasks from company profit, to the strategic plan, and delegating. But at the end of the day, they still have to go home and face their family and friends, while also trying to make up for the lost time spent away.

Can family and work be managed?

Fortunately, yes, as a new concept has been introduced: work-life integration. It’s when you allow yourself to answers calls, or send messages while you watch your son’s recital, or you Skype (News - Alert) with a colleague during a picnic with your friends. It is clearly not an ideal scenario, but it somehow balances the two worlds, when urgent matters are at stake.

Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo’s CEO, explains that every day you have to decide whether you are going to be a boss or a mother. The only way she has managed to create less animosity between work and her personal life, has been by "meticulously planning" her life, allowing her to be a "decent parent".

THE TEAM

“"None of us is as smart as all of us." - Ken Blanchard, Management Expert.

A CEO is nothing without the team. Often, people in charge act as if they care about a task, treating it superficially. Commitment is a fundamental trait looked for in a leader. It means knowing your team, the set goals and the right strategies, and how to align all these plans so that everything runs smoothly and everyone involved stays motivated.

So how can you build trust?

First of all, the likeability factor can harm your business, and you should focus on communication first. Afterwards, when you think about discussing new goals, be transparent, because if you try to be someone you are not, your team will sense it and you will eventually lose their trust and respect. And without them, no successful business ever stands the test of time.

VISION

"When you innovate, you’ve got to be prepared for everyone telling you you’re nuts." – Larry Ellison (News - Alert), Oracle.

Sometimes questioning the status quo of your business can open new and successful opportunities you didn’t even know. Everyone manages to implement and execute rules, but a few dare to swim against the current. And coming with a fresh perspective or a different angle, may change the entire energy flow of the staff, enabling new ideas, and in the end getting the best work out of your team.

For this reason, it is crucial to think outside the box and allow yourself and the people you work with be creative in order to cope with various contexts that may surface.

Vision refers to the bigger picture and it defines the end game. Examine any list of great leaders and you’ll find out that they have clarity and purpose of vision. If a CEO wants to perform effectively, then he or she needs to possess the ability to implement an articulated vision.

It is not enough to have discovered the purpose of your company if it cannot be translated. A leader’s vision must be properly delivered, adopted, and deeply embedded into the daily fabric of the organizational culture. Only by doing so will companies begin to flourish, becoming stronger every day.