9 Posts Found

Here’s a simple diagnostic tool that can be used to facilitate your firm’s discussions of the characteristics it seeks in a leader.

The questions that follow include a series of “paired” qualities that a good leader might possess. In each pair, either quality may be desirable. However, the point of pairing these qualities is to ask, “if there had to be a choice between the two … [ Read more ]

Author: David Maister | Source: Selecting a CFO: Do We Know What We Want? | Subject: CEO / Executive Questions

Direction-setting checklist: Be bold

1. Vision: Do we have a clear and compelling vision that reframes what winning looks like, and is it owned by the whole enterprise?
2. Strategy: Have we created a short list of clearly defined big moves at the enterprise level that will distance us from our competitors?
3. Resource allocation: Are we ‘thinking like an outsider’ to actively reallocate resources (such as dollars, people,

… [ Read more ]

Authors: Carolyn Dewar, Kurt Strovink, Scott Keller, Vikram Malhotra | Source: The CEO’s essential checklist: Questions every chief executive should be able to answer | Subject: CEO / Executive Questions

If you’re a chief exec or even an executive leader:

• Do you have a comprehensive understanding of the groups that most affect the organization’s ability to reach its goals?
• Do you know who your top customers and most critical employees are?

Now that you’ve identified them, ask yourself:

• Why do those customers and employees choose your company?
• Why do they stay?
• What is the likelihood of their future loyalty?

… [ Read more ]

Authors: Chris Jones, Jake Herway | Source: The Biggest Mistakes New CEOs Make and How Not to Make Them | Subject: CEO / Executive Questions

1. When did you last review how you allocate your time?
2. How much time do you spend a week actively reflecting on your strategy and priorities?
3. Structured versus open: How much of your calendar is unplanned?
4. Drumbeat versus flow: How much of your calendar doesn’t follow a set routine?
5. Operator versus counselor: How much time do you spend problem solving with teams (rather than attending business update and review meetings)?
6. Ambassador

… [ Read more ]

Authors: Jeff Hill, Xavier Mosquet | Source: For CEOs It’s About Time | Subjects: CEO / Executive Questions, Management Questions

1. Do you have an explicit TSR target guiding your strategic plan? Is that target appropriate given the expectations embedded in your stock price and the ability of your business plans to deliver improved performance? Do you understand how each of your businesses will contribute to meeting your TSR goal?
2. What are the historical sources of TSR for your company? How does your historical profile compare with

… [ Read more ]

Subject: CEO / Executive Questions

1. What is your TSR aspiration? Is that aspiration appropriate given the expectations embedded in your stock price and the ability of your plans to deliver improved performance?
2. How much growth do you need in order to deliver on that aspiration? What target revenue-growth rate is required in order to meet your goal given the momentum contribution of other TSR drivers?
3. Will optimizing growth and margins

… [ Read more ]

Subjects: CEO / Executive Questions, Finance Questions

1. Market Share
   Are you gaining, holding or losing market share in each of the segments that constitute your business? Why? Against which competitors?
2. Customer Leverage
   What percentage of your product is sold to customers who have significant leverage over you? Which customers are they, and why do they have leverage? Please provide a list of your top 25 customers and approximate sales volume to each. How

… [ Read more ]

Subject: CEO / Executive Questions

1. What fundamental value will your current plans generate? Is that performance really defensible given the competitive dynamics of your industry? Is it enough to meet your TSR aspirations?
2. What are the market expectations embedded in your stock price? Is there a gap between what you can deliver and what investors expect? If so, do you have a plan for closing it?
3. What drives valuation multiples in

… [ Read more ]

Subject: CEO / Executive Questions

1. Is the structure right?
2. Is the business model sustainable?
3. Do you want to be in the business you are in?
4. Is executive success (and succession) in place?
5. Do you know your customers?
6. Are the costs right?
7. Is the product right?
8. Do you know your competition?
9. Is the balance sheet right?
10. Where are you on technology?

Source: As the Economy Turns: 10 Questions for Executives / John McCallum / Ivey Business … [ Read more ]

Subject: CEO / Executive Questions