The CEO, Roles and Traits

The CEO: The chief executive is critical to an organisation’s success, both internally and externally. They lead, strategize, and set the tone of the activity to be achieved. 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Supporting the Board and enabling good governance. The chief executive’s role in the governance of a charity is significant. To a large extent they enable the Board to fulfil its duties, and with the Chair should ensure that appropriately skilled trustees are recruited.
2. Leading on the development of the organisation’s strategy. This is a critical part of the chief executive’s role. Together with the Board and colleagues, she or he will ensure a coherent and mission related strategy that takes account of external and internal challenges and opportunities. Being entrepreneurial and having commercial acumen is increasingly important for chief executives.
   
   
3. Develop a convincing narrative and be spokesperson on the key issues. The chief executive must ensure mission focus and build the profile not only of the charity itself, but more importantly the issues the organisation seeks to challenge or support.
4. Ensure the organisation is in good operational shape, including fundraising and finance. It is important that the chief executive balances the internal and external demands, and ensuring sustainable income is a top priority for most.
5. Build the cultural framework and lead by example. This is a critical part of the chief executive’s role, and is probably also the one that is most difficult to define. However, people watch a chief executive’s behaviour closely. Does she say and do the same thing? For example, saying you care about your employees if you never actually talk to them will make people question your integrity.
6. Everything else you have to do to get the job done!

What are the characteristics of people who become chief executives?

1. More often than not they build careers rather than hunt for the next big job. By delivering great outcomes and engaging positively, they are often promoted through to the top job even if this is not their enduring ambition.
2. They have humility and empathy, and are generally interested in others. They usually have a genuine interest in the sector broadly, and the cause specifically. Furthermore, they care about the people around them. Not just how they perform their jobs, but who they are, how they feel and what they enjoy doing. Whilst the aggressive, macho-leader of ‘The Apprentice’ and other popular shows get a lot of attention, most leaders do not boss people around. They lead by serving.
3. They are always seeking ways to improve how things are done, and don’t point a finger of blame unnecessarily when things go wrong. With a positive and enabling attitude, great chief executives know that nothing is ever perfect, that people can be developed and processes improved, and rarely do they say ‘we’ve always done it this way’. They also know when to make a decision and then own it and the consequences.
4. They build great teams. Successful chief executives (and other leaders) build and develop great teams of people around them. They are open, listen, and are happy to let others shine.
5. They take care of themselves. Being a chief executive is a tough job, and there are no internal peers. Our observation is that successful chief executives are good at setting boundaries; they are well networked, and find ways to let out steam and recharge.
6. And finally, they have fun! Don’t get me wrong - running a beyond profit organisation is a serious undertaking with the potential to have a huge positive impact on many lives, and change how we, the public,  think about and approach important issues. However, having fun and enjoying yourself whilst doing your job will only make you better at it.