When CEOs Aren't Leaders

Businessweek has just published a great story about CEO who aren't actually leaders, there is a fundamental problem with today's CEO especially in corporate America. Too many execs focus on profits and fail to build trust and inspire employees.

Thanks to the lot of CEOs and Enron, WorldCom, and other corporate scandals, the image of the corporate CEO has taken a pounding. While Americans generally strive for and celebrate achievement and success, they are increasingly sickened by the narcissism, greed, and other "me first" antics of such CEOs.


The problem lays in the fact that the terms "CEO" and "leader" have mistakenly become synonymous. Nothing could be further from the truth.
CEOs are measured by quantitative results. Leaders are shaped and defined by character. CEOs are expected to boost sales, improve profit margins, and make money for shareholders. Leaders inspire and enable others to do excellent work and realize their potential. As a result, they build successful, enduring organizations.

The story also suggests a few ways to fix the problem.

I think that most CEOs ain't really leaders, leadership is something much more profound and can be learned and developed but one must have certain qualities and basic skills not just for making money and increase sales, but to hold people together, inspire and deliver a vision and have the ability to stick to it even in times of trouble.