1. Stay in the mindset of every decision is a next step, not a last step

Whatever path you head down, you will learn more as you go, and that will inform the next step, and the one after that. It goes back to my very first response about my career path being a ramble not a path. It is OK if your next step is a misstep — if you are smart, capable, and resourceful you will figure out how to move forward productively.

2. Make tradeoffs visible and walk people through them as you go forward

Don’t just assume that people know what’s influencing a decision. When people understand the tough tradeoffs being made, it is easier for them to support a difficult direction. For example, if you have a strategic direction that requires moving to more standard products, you may need to lose a deal with a big customer who wants something custom from you. That’s tough for the company, for the executive responsible for that customer, and for the salesperson who might have been counting on that commission. And it is likely the right tradeoff for the long-term success of the company.

3. Politics are just human dynamics playing out in front of you

People throw that word around a lot, but it really boils down to how effective the leadership team is at communicating, debating, disagreeing, and then aligning and delivering together. If you feel like someone is ‘playing politics’, it is your responsibility to make it visible and commit to working on it together as a team rather than letting it fester in silence.

4. Understand the data, trust your gut

You are never going to find enough data to make big, strategic decisions risk free. At some point, you have to move forward and learn, adapt, and adjust as you go. I always ask myself if I’m looking for more data to provide missing insight or to reassure me about the decision. If I’ve reached the point where I’m just looking for reassurance, I know I’m depending too much on the data.

5. Executive alignment is the difference between success and failure

If you take the time to build a great executive leadership team that is aligned and delivering together, you are going to do amazing things together! Plus, you are going to have a lot more fun in your role in the C-Suite.

What are a few ways that executives can help to create a fantastic work culture?

“I think leaders can create a fantastic work culture by doing less telling and more talking. Here’s what I mean by that. I see so many executives depend on their comms team to write emails and build decks for them to present. And then the executive does a great job of hitting the bullet points as they tell people what they are supposed to hear. But, people don’t learn and grow by being told, they start to understand when they are in dialog about things. Executives need fewer bullet points and more minutes spend in conversations with their most important influencers throughout the company. When leaders stay in conversation instead of isolating themselves behind beautiful slides or perfectly constructed emails, they contribute to building the culture in amazing ways.”

– Julie Williamson, PhD

Want more on this topic?

Check out the rest of Julie’s interview in the Medium article here or check out this video on these Five Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective C-Suite Executive on our YouTube channel here.

Karrikins Group’s Alignment Institute offers a roadmap for C-Suite leaders seeking to navigate these complexities. By focusing on building strong leadership teams and fostering a culture of collaboration, organizations can unlock their full potential.

Are you ready to take your leadership to the next level? Connect with Karrikins Group to learn more about how we can support your journey.