Comments on: The CEO / President “They don’t need me anymore syndrome”

By: Edison Reis

Edison Reis — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:07:20 +0000

Thank you all for the great turn out and wide range of opinions.

Like I mentioned before, I am not lucky to be in that position but is great to see the perception and all the feedback received.

All the best as always

Edison Reis
http://www.QualityAssuranceManagement.com
.

By: John Henry

John Henry — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:58:22 +0000

Start grooming your replacement?

Slightly off topic but one syndrome I have seen for years is a reluctance on the part of some people to have subordinates qualified to replace them. This is generally out of fear that if their number 2 is qualified, they (#1) will be replaced. This happens at all levels. The line supervisor who scared of the great operator. The manager who is scared of the supervisor, the dept head scared of the manager and so on up to your CEO level.

This fear can be very corrosive.

Myself, I have always felt, or did when I had a job, back in the day, that if there was nobody who could replace me, it would be that much more difficult for my boss to move me up if an opportunity offered.

So, in all seriousness, what can you aspire to? How can having a groomed replacement help in those aspirations? As CEO you are at the top of the ladder in one sense. But if all you do is stay there, eventually you will rot.

John Henry
http://www.changeover.com

By: Itzhak יצחק Ben-Levy בן-לוי

Itzhak יצחק Ben-Levy בן-לוי — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:56:32 +0000

You cant stop, you have to start from square one, find a case for change, or create it. This will lead you for the next target

Itzhak יצחק Ben-Levy בן-לוי

By: Kirk Eaton

Kirk Eaton — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:54:29 +0000

It is a great position to be in I would think. I also believe you are right in that the “next step” is one of vision. Some thoughts I would ponder are …. What processes that you currently outsource can you bring internal and shorten your supply chain and thus Lead Time? How much more
of the market could you capture if your lead time were cut 50% What new products can you offer with slight modification to your existing platform.

One of my sensei’s gave me some insight in the form of a quote I’ll never forget – you cannot cut (cost reduction) your way to first place. Enjoy this time of success and then look for ways to take market share or expand your business offerings. This doesn’t mean adding people necessarily or enlarging your footprint instead how can you improve your profitability without adding costs.

Kirk Eaton

By: Douglas Cook

Douglas Cook — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:51:46 +0000

That is a dangerous position

I will bet anything that if you get your managers together and make it safe for them to originate issues, you will find many other areas to improve.

These types of discussions are very valuable to our management team, and I for one find that it helps us set a higher standard and feeds the visionary in all of us.

Douglas Cook