Page 217 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

198 • CEO Material: How to Be a Leader in Any Organization

Do some good stuff really soon, such as chair a task force, volun-
teer for a project (particularly an undesirable one), turn around a situa-
tion, fix a significant people demand, start up something major, or
manage a crisis.

If in your new job your boss is younger than you,
■ Get fit. You look and feel younger and more energetic if you
exercise, eat right, and stay in shape.
■ Stand tall. Hunched and slouched looks old and lazy.
■ Make fewer mistakes. You’re supposed to know better; you don’t
have the youthful freedom to mess things up.
■ Look happy. Keep a relaxed, affable expression. A frown or
scowl makes you look intimidated; a smile makes the
wrinkles go up instead of down. And while at it, be nice.
Crotchety is old.
■ Keep current in technology, music, and general trends. You don’t
have to like the new stuff; you just need to know about it.
■ Dress modern enough. Don’t wear your favorite outfit that’s carried
you through three U.S. presidents’ terms. Your clothes don’t have to
be trendy, but they shouldn’t be dowdy either. People notice your
clothes even if theirs aren’t so spiffy. One stodgy older executive
had the audacity in this day and age to talk about a female
executive who wore a pants suit saying she was “too lazy to put on
panty hose and wear a skirt.”
■ Refrain from saying, “When I was young....”

Work as if you own the company from day one. Fight like it’s your
own; be your own boss. Roll up your sleeves and engage enthusiastically.
Take ownership in the workings of the company by constantly asking,
“How does this work? How do we make money? Where is more money
to be made? What are the gains?” And then connect the dots.
Keep your inherited team long enough to sort out the good from
the not-so-good. Decide who should be moved up or out. Take appropri-
ate action.