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What Does a CEO Do?

Guest post by: Zeeman Haus

Article Overview: When asked what a CEO do the answer might vary from individual to individual, even among CEO’s themselves. The short answer is an easy one; everything. The long answer is as complicated as business itself. I hate complications so- as is my wont, I will try to break it down as simply as possible. The term CEO stands for Chief Executive Officer, and that’s a pretty broad term- but it is accurate in describing all of the duties of the CEO. From marketing to sales and fund raising, the CEO is responsible for all aspects of a business. This is a pretty big job and less than 5% of all CEOs perform all their duties with any efficiency. The reasons are as varied as the responsibilities that come with the job description. Most CEOs have the feeling that their job is fund raising, and while that is one important aspect of a CEO’s work the job

What Does a CEO Do?



When asked what a CEO do the answer might vary from individual to individual, even among CEO’s themselves. The short answer is an easy one; everything. The long answer is as complicated as business itself. I hate complications so- as is my wont, I will try to break it down as simply as possible.

The term CEO stands for Chief Executive Officer, and that’s a pretty broad term- but it is accurate in describing all of the duties of the CEO. From marketing to sales and fund raising, the CEO is responsible for all aspects of a business. This is a pretty big job and less than 5% of all CEOs perform all their duties with any efficiency. The reasons are as varied as the responsibilities that come with the job description.

Most CEOs have the feeling that their job is fund raising, and while that is one important aspect of a CEO’s work the job definition does not end there. Indeed, it is just underway.

When asking what does a CEO do, one must basically look at the business plan and realize that the CEO is responsible for the integrity of the document. From research and development, to marketing and sales and even the HR policies of the company- the CEO is responsible for it all. But all of that aside, their job is not one of micro-management either. Their basic “everything” duties can be broken down into four categories.

First off the CEO sets the direction of the company. This includes the company’s vision and strategy for achieving that vision. The CEO will often listen to their senior management team, outsourced coach or any other number of individuals as far as suggestions go, but will have to be the spot where the buck stops. They make the final decisions and follow up on the results.

Secondly the CEO sets the work tone for the company as well. At HP for example, there are no private offices, this is by design and has helped establish what is known as a corporate culture. Simply put, it’s the work environment. From dress code to HR policy and over all work environment, the COE makes these choices.

The CEO is also responsible for hiring and firing the senior management team. This is not something most people think of right off, but it might be the biggest function a CEO performs. By establishing the right combination of individuals with the right talents for every department, the CEO has a direct impact on the company’s senior staff and the overall success of the company.

While a CEO might set budget requirements and allocate funds where they feel it is necessary, it is probably the least thought of function of the CEO. Most people will point to the company treasurer or CFO (Chief Financial Officer) in this role, but it is the CEO who makes these decisions final.

In small business it’s easy to answer the question “What does a CEO do” without any sort of hesitation. A CEO in small business is most likely you. Managing yourself it the first step in being able to manage others.

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Article Tags: ceo, ceos, chief executive officer, job description, marketing, short answer
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