As they say, 'All good things come to an end.' and so with that in mind this is the final addition, the last point on our CEO Checklist. The fifth and last point is by no means the least so don't regard it as so, in fact, you really can't be a successful CEO if you are not a successful Motivator.
Of course, all these new communication, strategic thinking, entrepreneurial, and management talents don’t really work well if you are not able to motivate the world to follow you.
Boards like to see excitement and commitment—a real passion for what you are doing. This all translates into the motivation factor. Boards ask themselves, “Can this candidate get the board, the staff, the public excited about our issues?”
This is not to say that you have to be a fearless General Patton-style leader, but George Patton’s strengths included an absolute commitment to getting the job done. Like all great leaders, Patton had great passion that motivated others to follow. If you want to lead, if you are to be the CEO, you need to care—to have a passion for all aspects of the job. Al¬though you cannot manufacture the kind of ardor that motivates devotion, you can stoke the flames of passion by reminding yourself precisely what it is about becoming a CEO that so inspires you. That passion, that enthusiasm, will become contagious and motivate others to listen to you, to work with you, to follow your lead.
To prepare yourself to be an association CEO—or a better CEO—assess your present strengths and experiences. Do they include most of these five at¬tributes above? If not, start to build up those aspects of your experience and take your AE career to the next level. n
