The CEO Test

Introduction

Despite all the effort over the past several decades to understand what it takes to be an effective leader, the challenges of leadership remain enormously difficult and elusive for people at every level and across all types of organizations, from businesses to nonprofits to the public sector.

It is true for first-time managers, who often struggle to make the transition from being a sole contributor to achieving through others. How demanding should you be? When do you let go, and when do you step in to do the work? How do you provide direct feedback without being too critical? How do you strike the right balance of being friendly without trying to be just one of the gang? What are the right moments to show vulnerability? Or is it ...