In this post, you will find a handy checklist that can help you to decide if that candidate who seems very fit to occupy such an important position actually meets the requirements that every successful company is looking for.

1. By Jason Hanold
* 8 essential factors you should
evaluate when hiring a CEO
Image courtesy
of NET4GAS s.r.o
at Flickr.com

2. Choosing carefully the new CEO of your company is not
an easy decision. Good leadership may define the success
or failure of an organization's goals, as well as having a
huge influence on the happiness of its collaborators and
even on the future of a community. Much care and
research is required, in addition to the detailed selection
process to which each candidate must submit. In this
post, you will find a handy checklist that can help you to
decide if that candidate who seems very fit to occupy
such an important position actually meets the
requirements that every successful company is looking
for.

3. 1. Motivations
All the activities that we carry out always have a what, a how and
why. Most people always know what they are doing. That's not hard.
Many people know how things are done, and of course, the more you
know how to do things, the more you stand out in relation to those
who know less. However, few people know the reason why they do
what they are doing. Actually, such reasons are the true engine that
drives the how and the what of any activity.
2. Desire for change
A common feature of thousands of leaders in history is that they have
had the deep desire to wake up every day with an improved image of
the world. A good CEO should want to bring new changes, not doing
the same things that have been done for a long time (this may be the
reason why they are hiring a new CEO, right?) How much of this does
your candidate have? This usually does not come out in the middle of
the formalities of a job interview, so, take a coffee with the aspiring
CEO. Ask him/her about his/her ideas about how to improve things in
politics or sports, for example. Take note.

4. 3. Good use of power
We all know that power corrupts, and it may bring out the worst in someone.
However, this is how the world works: some people have power over others.
How is this candidate's relationship with power? If he/she likes power, be
suspicious. If he/she does not know how to handle it, too. The proper use of
power is the hallmark of a good CEO, because he/she will not use his/her
position to amuse himself/herself, abuse or dominate his/her subordinates,
and will know how to make good decisions in the midst of crisis. Successful
CEOs use the power that gives them their position with wisdom and patience.
4. Ethics
The word "honor" is no longer used the way it was used before. Now, every day
is more difficult to trust the word of others. That is why it is important to
encourage ethics, reward it and re-consider it as a corporate value. The
reputation of an entire organization may be at stake when it comes to the
ethical behavior of your new CEO. An excellent resume and a great amount of
money produced a year by a CEO are useless if you have a corrupt
Machiavellian sitting at the CEO's desk.
Related: Tips You Need To Keep In Mind When Hiring a New Executive, by
Jason Hanold

5. 5. Fear of failure
There are worse things than making mistakes in business (disloyalty,
for example.) A bad decision is a mistake that anyone can commit, and
it is part of what we call taking risks. So, evaluate whether your
potential CEO is afraid to make a mistake or not. A person who is
afraid of mistakes, is usually afraid of change and will not usually
propose new and revolutionary ideas. Great CEOs know that even
though they are there to win, sometimes they must lose to learn and
teach others.
6. Optimism
Seriously: a company does not need "excess of realism." A good CEO
must have the right attitude to steer the boat, especially in times of
storm, and this is possible only with a positive attitude. Great leaders
have always been great optimists (otherwise they would never have
dared to undertake the great deeds for which they are remembered.)
Optimism includes, of course, tolerance for frustration. It should be
high, because every day will not be quiet.

6. 7. Communication
Let us remember that an organization is more than the sum of its
parts. It is more than infrastructure, employees, devices, knowledge
or money. An organization is eminently communications. For this
reason, a good CEO must be an excellent communicator. His/her
leadership involves clearly communicating the goals and procedures
required of a task to his/her subordinates. This is the only way for
setting achievable goals and achieving measurable results.
8. Support
Finally, good CEOs are able to provide emotional support to those for
whom they are responsible. They recognize the importance of
encouraging and inspiring trust and also recognize the merits of a
well-done job.
I hope this checklist is useful for your company. Until next time.
Recommended: Want to Be a CEO? Here Are the Skills You Need to
Develop