Cameron Herold warns that when CEOs fully delegate operations they can become bored, restless, and start 'stirring the muck'—which can disrupt a well-running business. He recommends assigning CEOs fixed quarterly projects and business-area initiatives, plus skip-level meetings to review metrics and expectations, so they stay engaged with purpose without interfering in day-to-day operations.
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Give them some projects and some initiatives for them to focus on, and that will keep them focused on what you need them to focus on. It'll also show them that they have purpose and they'll be less bored inside the organization. About a year ago, one of the CEOs and COOs that I was coaching were having very, very good growth in their company. They had over 100 employees. They were growing really nicely. Everything was kind of clicking along perfectly. The CEO had delegated lots in the business and had their COO and the leadership team really running the business for them. And the CEO said on our coaching call, I think it was a group coaching call that we had because I feel like I have to go back into the business and mess some stuff up again to kind of dig in and get relevant. And I was like, no, don't go mess anything up. CEOs are often in there stirring the muck. They're kind of often stirring the muck because they don't know what else to do, right? Once we actually get everything delegated and off the CEO's plate, they get bored, they get restless. Their ADD starts to kick in, and in the absence of having roles and responsibilities and clear reporting structure, they go and mess stuff up. So here's what I suggest. Give your CEO a set of fixed quarterly projects. Give them a set of fixed quarterly business areas to do. Skip level meetings with and to inspect what they expect and to look at the metrics and to go and meet with the people. Give them some projects and some initiatives for them to focus on, and that will keep them focused on what you need them to focus on. It'll also show them that they have purpose and they'll be less bored inside the organization and they'll stop messing stuff up for you. So don't stop now. Click here. There's more great videos that you can keep learning from. And together we're unlocking amazing leadership lessons together.
