As CEO, so often we are tugged in several different directions. A week can end and what you had on your list to complete has been rolled over to another week for the third time. It's true that a big piece of the position is being nimble enough to move with the everyday whirlwinds that compete for our attention. Weeks become months and months become a bad quarter. If we are lucky a bad quarter can be just the warning sign we needed to pause long enough and evaluate where the company may be losing revenue, has an opportunity to grow or pinpoint the threats that would mean repeating the bad quarter over.
There are 3 main areas that should consistently require a CEO's focus, strategy and recurring action: 1. Clientele, 2. Staff and 3. Leadership. It is absolutely true that without a client there are no services or products to be sold. Without staff, growth and expansion aren't possible. Without attuned leadership, a thriving company can quickly become obsolete. No matter how you slice it a company isn't a company without clientele, staff, and leadership that can see a bigger vision.
It is a delicate song and dance that requires balanced attention and flexibility. It is in these three areas that a company who has plateaued or is looking to increase revenue can quickly find hidden profit. These are not the "sexy" areas of the company and for that reason are often left to their own demise. A company is only as strong as the foundation it is built upon and these three areas certainly represent the company's bones or foundation, if you will. Each of the areas mentioned when strengthened can provide increased results that have lasting ripple effects throughout the company.
The true question to ask yourself is simple. How much time as a CEO do I really spend nurturing and cultivating these areas? I can guarantee the state of your company is a direct reflection of the serious attention and time you give to clientele, staff, and leadership.