I’m not sure where this myth originated, but there seems to be a school of thought that a CEO only operates within their zone of genius, and leaves the rest of the business to their managers and employees.

Sorry, but this is a recipe for disaster. You are the boss.  Your vision drives the company. Your expectations keep your team accountable, and THAT is what a CEO does. A true leader doesn’t micromanage nor do they nitpick their people; instead they are adept at holding their team accountable in a way that fosters mutual respect. 

You Set the Tone

If you aren’t careful and develop too big of a distance between yourself and the day-to-day running of your business, then there is a chance of you losing control of your team and their approach to furthering the common goal of your company. Similarly, if you find yourself assuming your project manager can handle everything, you’d be wrong. This is similar to expecting the teenage babysitter to wield authority in the same manner that you, the parent, do. You could have the best managerial employees around, but they’re not you.

You’re Not There to Manage People

Remember you’re there to set the tone, drive the vision and manage the agreements you and your employees made when you hired them. You manage talent. That’s what hiring is- seeing the potential in someone and what they can bring to the table. 

You’re also there to manage expectations and parameters. Again, it’s like parenting a child. Kids do much better most of the time if there are clear expectations and set guidelines for them to act within. Again this is not to say you lean over your employees’ shoulders and monitor their work all day, but it is important for them to understand the overall goals and expectations that you have for them in the context of common success. 

You Have to Own it; The Bottomline

Maybe the worst has happened and you’ve lost control. Maybe it’s gotten so bad that your managers have invented their own parameters, or maybe your general employees have. Perhaps you’ve attempted to hire a project manager to whip everyone back into shape, only to have an all-out rebellion by most of your office in response. Is it too late to get back on track?

No, but it might hurt a bit. The reason your team may react hostility to you regaining control is that they’ve been doing all the work in the meantime. Even if it’s well below the vision you have for your company, they’ve been trying and now they take any critique or overhaul as a personal attack. 

So you’re going to have to admit that a lot of this problem is your fault- you need to own it. You need to apologize for your lack of leadership and assure them that those days are over and from now on there will be clear expectations and an authority to look to should they need direction or advice. 

It’s not easy to get back from a place of chaos, but it can be done, and frankly, it’s one of my favorite processes to help along. Let’s get you back in the driver’s seat as the true leader you were always meant to be. 

I would love to get connected on Instagram or The 7-Figure Freedom Club Facebook Group so we can chat about your takeaways from this episode. If you’re interested in learning more schedule a call with me today or visit my website!

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