Page 25 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

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

Over many conversations with a number of CEOs, I asked why
being a leader is a good gig. They told me that you have the best chance
of any job in the organization to

■ Turn things around, make things happen.
■ Be the coach, the mentor.
■ Make a difference.
■ Get to select the people you’re around.
■ Be able to do something about the problems you complain about.
■ Make your own decisions.
■ Minimize doing things that you think are stupid.
■ Choose the chances you’re going to take.
■ Make decisions that can change the world.
■ Be able to help more people.
■ Do what you think is right.
■ Be the boss you always wanted to have.
■ And control your own destiny.

The fact is that being a leader in any organization is a most noble
(and interesting) job. What’s more important than working as the big
kahuna to build an organization, putting wages in peoples’ pockets, grow-
ing the economy, and making the world a better place?

I figured I’m as smart as others running the show. I decided to be the
boss that I always wanted to have.
Plus, you’ll make from 40 to 1,000 times more money than what
most people make in their first job. Now, if that offends you, it’s some-
thing you can change once you’re in the top seat.

Money doesn’t buy happiness, but you can look for it in much nicer
places.

Also, as the leader, chief, or CEO, you have the most direct route to
help humanity. In addition to leading the organization as you see fit, as a
head you can take on a socially responsible position to direct resources
toward solutions in global climate change, energy challenges, clean water
in developing countries, the world economy, global peace, chronic hunger