To all future CEOs out there, here’s some undisclosed advice.
- Joan M. Godoy -
One year ago today, Radical Partners went through its first leadership transition. On June 1, 2020, Joan M. Godoy is announced as its new Executive Director. Hey, that’s me! The person writing this love letter, the new ED, CEO, full-time visionary, lead multitasker, or whatever you’d like to call me.
To all future CEOs out there… The journey is both exciting and exhausting (and totally worth it!). As an anniversary gift both for me and you, I am sharing 12 tips that I wish I would’ve heard back then. A year later, I am finally sharing the 12 things I wish I could’ve read somewhere. The things that I now know many leaders have learned but haven’t really had the time to implement or share with those that come after us.
1. CONGRATULATIONS! READ THIS BOOK.
Once you accept the challenge, get yourself a book called The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins. He will walk you through all the leadership skills you need to hone, the strategic moves you need to make, and the missteps that many have made, and prepare you to succeed.
I will be forever grateful to my friend Gustavo Grande who recommended it to me once he heard my struggles. I read it a little too late.
2. GET YOUR FAMILY ON BOARD.
Talk to your family before you start. Everybody needs to be ready to adapt. You will change, schedules will shift, and your roles will be different. You will probably be consumed by your new job and it is a must for all of you to build a new routine. My husband JP certainly has some funny (now) stories to tell.
3. BUILD YOUR TRIBES.
I won’t be the only one to tell you that it gets lonely. Nobody will ever understand what you’re going through. You can’t share much with your employees and your family can only hear much about your work, so build and nurture different tribes. Have a group of friends that can hear you complain, curate a group of people you admire that will help you strategize, strengthen your network of mentors, and don’t forget the ones that will dance it all off with you. You will need them. They love you and need you too.
4. MAKE SURE SOMEONE DOES YOUR OLD JOB.
Whether you’re transitioning from one organization to another, or climbing up the imaginary ladder within your own organization, make sure someone is ready to do what you did before. You don’t want to find yourself doing 2 or 3 jobs at a time or worrying about what needs to get done somewhere else. You will need all the energy you can get to learn, adapt quickly, and lead your new team.
5. LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR.
I mean it. Especially when people ask questions like: “Are you the new [previous CEO’s name]? or say things like: “You’ve got big shoes to fill!” As if you weren’t scared enough. You’re not better than them. It is not a competition. They’re not better than you. You were chosen to take the organization forward. You’re different, that’s all. Keep your predecessor close, learn from them; they’ve been doing it for longer than you. Share with them too as they can definitely benefit from your perspective and bring some of your value adds wherever they went next.
Rebecca Fishman Lipsey is who I get to learn from every day.
6. PROTECT YOUR TIME.
Be meticulous when you build your schedule. You will be bombarded with emails and meeting requests, that’s great, but when you’re excited, you can forget to leave room to serve your team or think. You know what else you can forget? Leaving enough time to sleep, eat well, and have fun. Protect your time to be alone, to love your loved ones, and do the things you enjoy that are unrelated to work (if that can ever be a thing).
7. SET VALUES. SET BOUNDARIES.
Have you seen how toddlers and teenagers test the limits all the time? Your employees and your partners will do it too, especially if they have ideas or salary raises that weren’t pursued before. Be ready to ask for more time or simply say no. It will be easier if you’re clear on what those non-negotiable are.
8. STEP INTO YOUR POWER. DON’T LET IT STEP OVER YOU.
With access comes power. Use it well. You will have access to more information, relationships, and resources. You will get to make decisions every day that can affect you and thousands of people. Don’t ever forget where you come from and how you got to where you are. Stay true to your purpose. Remember those who want to be like you and open doors for them. Observe the leaders that abuse power and try hard to never become them.
9. PEOPLE OVER NUMBERS, ALWAYS.
Your success will most likely be measured in numbers. That’s the world we live in and you’ll have to learn the $ and % language. Behind all numbers, there’s people. Your numbers come from the team that makes it happen, the partners that trust you, or the board members that want to increase their impact. How you get to the numbers matters and that’s what you will be remembered for.
10. YOU’RE BOLD AND BRAVE TOO.
The leaders you admire are impressive. Follow them. Learn from them. Aspire to be like them. You’re as bold and as brave as them. People follow you too, learn from you too, and aspire to be like you too. You’ve got this!
11. STAY FLEXIBLE.
Have plans A, B, Z at hand and also be ready for change. Adaptability is what will make you thrive. There’s always the possibility of a pandemic turning the world upside down.
12. BREATHE. LIVE. THIS IS THE ONE LIFE YOU GET.
Breathe often. Be present. Live the one life you get. Take it all in as you go. You’re making the memories that you will reminisce later. You’re writing the stories that you will share in the future. Be kind to others and yourself.