CEO Success Strategies: Top 21 Tips to Outshine 97% of Leaders

In today’s hyper-competitive business world, it takes more than basic management skills to successfully steer a business from the top. It now demands a mix of strategies that will place you in the top 3 per cent at the best. Here, then, are 21 simple strategies that will make you a stand-out leader and help you to excel over 97 per cent of your peers.

1. Prioritize Profits

The first thing to remember about good leadership is that it involves being profitable. You are a CEO. Your most important job is to make sure that your organisation generates income. Sometimes, that means doing things that might not be popular, but that help the bottom line.

2. Do Less of What Isn't Working

Find activities, projects or strategies that are not yielding the desired results and drop them. Put more resources and time into the things that work. This helps operators to reduce waste and maximise output.

3. Keep Your Personal Gas Tank Full

Since you’re a leader, your moods are influential. So try to stay well-rested, hydrated and relaxed. Set aside time for breaks, exercise and hobbies. By taking care of your own energy, you’ll be able to stay energized and continue to motivate others.

4. Don't Be Afraid to Increase Prices

But your pricing is the lever that can move that needle the most. If you are giving good value, then raise your prices. Besides improving profit margins, this tells your clients how much that value is worth.

5. Divest from What Isn't Serving You

You might think of this like cutting out bad moves: eliminating underperforming products or services and investing those funds elsewhere.

6. Do What Is Working the Best

Get past the jargon and concentrate on the tactics and programs that are actually producing results. If you double down on what works you can have more of what works and build a more resilient business model.

7. Learn the Big Levers in Your Financials

Don’t just understand your financial statements. Figure out the key levers that drive your numbers – the sources of revenue and the drivers of costs and profitability – so you can make meaningful decisions about the health of your business.

8. Interviews Are Like a Box of Chocolates

When hiring, you never know what you’re going to get, so come to an interview with an open mind. Look for people with the right mix of skills, but who also look like they’ll fit into your company culture.

9. Let Go of Low Performers and Bad Strategies

If employees or strategies are failing to meet expectations, hang on too long, and you’ll hold back your business; hang on too soon, and you don’t give underperforming individuals or initiatives a chance to succeed. Be intentional about letting go when you outgrow those individuals or strategies.

10. Clear Purpose Can Get You Through Dark Times

In moments of crisis, a clear purpose and mission can help you and your team remain steady through the storm. It reminds you of what you’re working toward, and possibly helps you recover strength for the effort required.

11. Transform Imposter Syndrome into Confidence

Many leaders, of course, suffer from self-doubt. Instead of letting imposter syndrome sap your self-confidence, harness it to spur you on. Recognize your achievements: remind yourself of your track record.

12. May the Force Be with You

At times of need, draw on your own inner power and strength. Be confident about your own capabilities and stay aware of your aims and objectives, but know that what counts is the time and trouble you put into achieving things.

13. Ensure Your Team Shares Your Values and Vision

You need a strong team, with a shared commitment to your dreams and purpose. Encourage a culture of shared values, where everyone knows and buys into the company’s ‘why’ – why it exists, who it is for, and what it does. This can unlock a whole new level of teamwork and output.

14. Stop Associating with People Who Bring You Down

Your network is powerful. Who you surround yourself with will either perpetuate a positive mindset and performance, or otherwise. Be around people who strive for greatness and who support you in your goals.

15. Reframe Failure into Success

Think about failure not as a complete narrative, but rather as a passing note – an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and forge a path towards future success.

16. Cultivate a Winning CEO Mindset and Trust Yourself

Cultivate the mindset that chooses challenge over threat, and looks for growth opportunities instead of threats. Trust yourself and your decisions because that is what effective leaders do.

17. High Performers Want to Work with Other High Performers

To recruit the kind of talent that will wow your customers and contribute to real innovation, treat your top performers right. Create a culture that rewards quality work and cultivates high-touch interactions between great employees.

18. High Performers Seek Challenge, Mission, and Accomplishment

Star performers are driven by meaningful work and the opportunity to achieve substantial goals, so make sure your organisation offers both challenges and purpose.

19. Goal Setting Can Be a Powerful Motivational Tool

Make your goals clear for yourself and your team. Early on, determine exactly what your team’s accomplishment should look like, and the incremental steps you’ll need in order to get there. You’ll be surprised how having such clarity – a well-defined objective for the shared experience – can actually tilt the odds in your favor. It’s not just about the goals: it helps to motivate your team, and keeps them focused on achieving success.

20. Celebrate Your Victories and Accomplishments

Celebrating achievements, including small victories, is great for morale and cultivates a climate of accomplishment. Acknowledge your team’s efforts and relish in their wins.

21. Why Are You Putting Up with Clients That Don't Value You?

Assess your client relationships. Outsource those that are ungrateful for your work. Girl Scouts choose partners who are aligned with their values and help their business flourish.

These are not tricks or hacks but important pieces of a leadership playbook. Use them to help you become a CEO with the respect of your peers. What else would you put on this list? Tell us in the comments.