There is no denying that the majority of CEOs take pride in their work, as reaching the top and achieving success relies on having a genuine passion for what you do. This often means spending a lot of time focusing on tasks and tirelessly working for the benefit of the company. Regardless of the industry that you work in or your geographical location, time management is a key part of being a CEO.
There are a variety of ways to spend your time as a CEO, and this could differ from other CEOs in your industry. The way that you approach your work is likely to vary slightly from other leaders, as is the way that you add value to the larger team. These differences can be categorised, which we have detailed below.
The way that you approach time management is likely to depend on your industry, the situation that you are facing and your personality. Whereas some industries require a CEO to be hands-on and present, other industries need CEOs to have a public profile. To ensure that you are managing your time in the right way, you need to put thought into your calendar.
Time Management Approaches for CEOs
● Structured vs. Open CEO - If you are a structured CEO, your calendar is likely to be filled with events, meetings and professional commitments. This puts you in the right place, at the right time and with the right people. Conversely, an open CEO is likely to leave parts of the day free, making sure they are available to their teams if they need to be. This makes time for unplanned challenges, developments and industry changes. For some CEOs, meetings are key to staying on top of a team, but others like to avoid too much structure in the workplace, preferring to catch up with others as and when they need to.
● Operator vs. Counsellor CEO - Operator CEOs want to be engaged with the day to day running of a business, they want to be ‘on the ground’ and involved. If you are an operator CEO, your calendar will be centred around review meetings and staying up to date with your team. Counsellor CEOs are slightly different, as they focus on mentoring and guiding the people that they have put in charge. If you are a counsellor CEO, you are less hands on and focus your attention on overseeing other leaders.
● Ambassador vs. Quarterback CEO - A lot of CEOs feel a pressure to have a public profile, to show up to meetings with officials, to speak at industry events and to really interact with employees. However, other CEOs lean into spending time with their team and prioritise working with a small group of people in the workplace. This highlights the difference between an ambassador CEO and a quarterback CEO. Being an ambassador CEO is time consuming and busy, and though it’s an effective way to boost the profile of a company, it doesn’t work for everyone. For quarterback CEOs, it’s more important to spend time working directly with their team, shaping things from the inside.
As a CEO, your typical day will depend on the type of person and leader that you are. Though some leaders focus on their calendar and manage their time in a way that makes the biggest impact, others take a step back and embrace a more flexible approach to time management. There is no right or wrong way to approach time management as a CEO. It’s about finding what works best for you in a constantly evolving industry. As long as you are examining your calendar and making the most of your time, it’s possible to become a more effective leader.
