Letter to the CEO: 5 Ways to Become a More Effective and Compassionate Leader
Writer’s note: The following piece is not directed toward or about any specific person. The words below are a compilation of the experiences and observations I’ve gathered from organizations I’ve consulted for and worked with.
Dear CEO,
My therapist suggested I write a strongly worded letter to you to communicate my thoughts and reset boundaries and expectations. So, let me now utilize the voice you have silenced on countless occasions.
This company is not your baby. It is a business. The employees are not a family. They are a group of people ensuring the business runs smoothly. I am not one of your lil friends. If I were I would tell you that you need to get ya sh*t together… respectably:
Your energy and excitement for everything sometimes feel out of touch. It’s OK to be realistic and practical.
When you take up a lot of space during meetings, employees walk away feeling like nothing valuable has been said.
Your ego can get in the way of allowing others to be vulnerable and share transformative ideas.
Your daily micromanagement slows down decision-making and the ability to get sh*t done.
The grand idea, skills, and luck it takes to create a company do not necessarily make an incredible leader who can run an ethical, inclusive, and effective operation.
Since I am dedicated to the success of the company, here are 5 things you can start doing today to improve.
Trust the people you hire. They were hired for a reason. Give them the autonomy to execute on their scope of work and give them the resources and support they need to excel.
Take a break. Working long hours to prove your dedication and commitment is not cute and not an efficient use of your time. When you overwork, your employees feel they have to do the same and eventually burn out.
Go to therapy and do the individual work in DEIA. Have you ever thought about the ways your trauma shows up in your leadership and decision-making? Have you pondered and evaluated the reasoning behind the need for validation and affirmation in everything you say and do? Has anyone told you the harmful impact you cause with your “well-meaning” and “well-intentioned” behavior? Well, I am here to tell you to do the personal work. Invest in professional development, take courses, join coaching programs, go to therapy! It’s okay to not be perfect. You are human.
Be Proactive > Reactive. The “wait and see what happens” mentality often does more harm than good. The delaying of a decision is worse than making the “wrong” choice. You can learn from the choices you make… you can’t learn and grow when you stall. Be proactive and create a strategy of action (with deliverables and a budget!)
Shut up and Listen: You are in the way of the success of your company. Lean into being an active listener. Lose your ego and listen to the ideas and passion of the employees. Let that be your North Star in cultivating a viable, successful organization.
I can go on about more things you can do and how to do it… However, I am in a place of prioritizing my time and energy in those that are committed to listening and doing the work. Are you ready for that?
Kind regards,
Your Very Patient Employee