By: Jamal Abdulrahman Al-Zamil
The CEO is defined as the person responsible for and involved in the day-to-day operations of the company to which he belongs—from setting goals, organizing resources, and guiding employees, until his follow-up and efforts culminate in ensuring that the plan matches the results. On the surface, the task seems easy and straightforward, but in reality, it requires strong determination, perseverance, intelligence, and diligence—far removed from the illusions promoted by the spotlight, which often influence young people.
Responsibility That Bears the Consequences
Today, in this column, we’re discussing the CEO, who is constantly subjected to a wave of envy regarding his position. Some believe it’s a cushy job with few responsibilities—even if the ship is on the verge of sinking, they turn to him for help after God: "Do something!" And if it sinks—God forbid—everyone holds him responsible, and their mantra is: "You’re the one in charge!" That is why this position conceals behind it so many responsibilities, achievements, failures, devastating mistakes, dazzling successes, and much more. It is this elegant title—"Chief Executive Officer"—that propelled Apple to greatness, brought Nokia to its knees, and sold Yahoo
The CEO is a position that oversees various departments
So when I talk about the duties, tasks, and responsibilities of a CEO, I’m not referring to the title that some young people rush to add to their business cards. When people ask them, "What do you do?" they say, "I’m the co-founder and CEO of such-and-such startup," and this company consists of him, his friend, and maybe his brother. I’m talking about the real CEO who works at large companies that have an impact on the market and in their respective fields, and who oversees department heads such as: - Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and other titles that have a certain glamour that impresses people—but honestly, they don’t catch my attention in the slightest; What matters is the achievement behind each of these titles.
Psychological Pressure and the Risk of Failure
There’s a saying that goes, "The CEO’s pay is commensurate with the hardship." I don’t remember who said it, but the CEO does indeed get the spotlight and that salary in exchange for a great deal of psychological pressure and fears about the possibility of his plan or management strategy failing. From my own experience, I’ll tell you the secret formula: There is no secret recipe—just trial and error and learning.
In addition to internal pressures within the company, we find that the CEO is always caught between a rock and a hard place, dealing with external challenges such as markets, competitors, investors, and government agencies, as well as internal challenges such as managers and employees—and the constant challenge of creating a stable work environment that ensures continuity and continuously improves performance continuously.
Requirements for a Successful CEO
1- Sleep a maximum of 4–6 hours per day.
2- Spend time with your spouse and children once a week—or perhaps once a month.
3- See a doctor at least every two weeks to ensure your health remains stable.
4- Acquiring leadership qualities (Yes… they say leadership is innate, but I say: leadership is acquired through circumstances and situations).
5- Mastery and great skill in effective communication: the ability to win over everyone from managers to workers (very important for achieving your goals).
6- Emotional discipline: Do not let your emotions get in the way of your work, nor ignore the human aspects of the job.
7- Frequent travel (this sounds fun, but—believe me—it’s extremely exhausting, especially as you get older).
8- Extreme flexibility (so you can deal wisely and consciously with changes).
9- Continuous learning: The pursuit of knowledge—dear aspiring CEO—is a duty, not a luxury. Even now, I learn from young people the same age as my children things I don’t know about technology and marketing, and I see nothing wrong with that.
The day you become arrogant about knowledge, know that you are unfit for the title of CEO.
10- Commitment: You are a mirror for a vast army of employees, managers, workers, customers, partners, shareholders, and businesspeople.
Commitment is not a choice for you; it is an absolute necessity.
My words may seem a bit harsh when it comes to the CEO—especially when speaking to my sons—but take this as a piece of wisdom from me, my son: A glass of water thrown in your face to wake you up is better than a piece of candy I put in your mouth to make you giddy. Be a man worthy of the responsibility and challenges so that you—and you alone—can become a CEO you’re proud of. And to my dear fellow CEOs: Where do you stand in your achievements and your life?
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