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Can we turn it around and ask what we actually want from a (good) C-level. Cos I suspect it's not what most of us imagine. At some point what we want from C-l

Can we turn it around and ask what we actually want from a (good) C-level. Cos I suspect it's not what most of us imagine. At some point what we want from C-level is putting in place (bespoke) systems that achieve the "strategic" goals - Is the monthly churn growing? Are you not able to get high touch sales to take off? Is the European product not ready? All of those are the sort of "strategic" things people tend to hire CxOs for - but any good analyst can get you 80% of the way to identifying the problems, and then you have to pick a solution. At that point you are hiring someone for a very specific job with a clear roadmap. Maybe you can hire internally ? Edit: on the other hand this article (from the frontpage) is an excellent example of hiring for a job, even though the person doing it is not going to be building the ditches etc. Walt hired for experience and focus on the job he wanted done. And as that job was going to have to be a negotiation with all the other agents building the park, he needed a high level advocate for the job (minimalmmosquitoes) he wanted From this I suggest that hiring a CxO is hiring a person to act as advocate for the outcome you are hiring them for - very similar to politics https://mousetrack.co.uk/blog/mosquitoes-at-disney-why-do-you-almost-never-see-them/ https://mousetrack.co.uk/blog/mosquitoes-at-disney-why-do-yo...

cozos 4y ago
This is sort of the discussion I wanted to hear from this thread. What separates a a product manager paired with a data analyst from say, a CEO or CPO (product)? Surely the PM and DS are better armed to make decisions with data and talking to users, etc.
- refurb 4y ago
  In big orgs it’s making decisions based on the totality of the business, not if we should spend $X on ads to grow revenue 50%. If any company is being honest with itself, there are more good ideas than time or money. A good CEO sets a course for the company, and most importantly gets everyone on board then relentlessly squashes distractions and basically clears the way for everyone to actually do their job. CEOs need business sense, but as you said, the people who know the details report to the CEO. At the heart of it, the CEO is a salesperson and people manager.
  - lifeisstillgood 4y ago
    So perhaps we are arguing for "mission command" - lowest possible level decisions made
    - refurb 4y ago
      Agree 100%. But you need both. You need someone saying "we're going in this direction", then people down the chains making decisions how best to get there. I've worked at places that had no leadership from the top and it was incredibly frustrating. 10 different teams pulling in 10 different directions usually means no progress at all.

cozos 4y ago

This is sort of the discussion I wanted to hear from this thread. What separates a a product manager paired with a data analyst from say, a CEO or CPO (product)? Surely the PM and DS are better armed to make decisions with data and talking to users, etc.

refurb 4y ago
In big orgs it’s making decisions based on the totality of the business, not if we should spend $X on ads to grow revenue 50%. If any company is being honest with itself, there are more good ideas than time or money. A good CEO sets a course for the company, and most importantly gets everyone on board then relentlessly squashes distractions and basically clears the way for everyone to actually do their job. CEOs need business sense, but as you said, the people who know the details report to the CEO. At the heart of it, the CEO is a salesperson and people manager.
- lifeisstillgood 4y ago
  So perhaps we are arguing for "mission command" - lowest possible level decisions made
  - refurb 4y ago
    Agree 100%. But you need both. You need someone saying "we're going in this direction", then people down the chains making decisions how best to get there. I've worked at places that had no leadership from the top and it was incredibly frustrating. 10 different teams pulling in 10 different directions usually means no progress at all.