Finding direction

One of the main reasons so many companies are struggling today is because CEOs do not have their finger on the pulse of what is going on in their business.

Leadership is not to be taken lightly. Many CEOs are drifting from their jobs. and it is affecting those around them.

There are a number of signs that indicate you are drifting away, such as coming in late, leaving early and meeting with fewer and fewer people. When was the last time you visited a customer? Do you have a clear direction for where the company is going? Are you always looking for other opportunities to get involved with?

Here are four reasons that could explain why you might be drifting.

* You simply don’t like what you do. You see what you are doing as a job rather than a career. You have no passion. You are just passing time for a paycheck, and your intentions are evident to everyone except yourself.

It is very difficult to be true to yourself in this type of situation; however, once you are, it will benefit you as well as the company.

* You are in over your head. Many people end up in a position they should not be in. This could be because of a transition in the company, where someone is placed in a position they shouldn’t be in.

Another reason could be good salespeople oversold themselves into a position they are not qualified to fill. It is only a matter of time before these people are exposed.

* You are bored. Day after day, week after week, month after month — it becomes a blur after a while. The redundancy of doing the same job over and over can burn people out, so a change is obviously needed.

* You are too far removed from the details. The longer a CEO is on the job, the less information that flows to him or her.

Over time, the CEO figures out what information he or she considers valuable, which results in gathering less information to make good decisions. As time goes on, the CEO loses touch with employees and customers.

The question to ask is, would you hire yourself if you were looking for a replacement? If the answer is no, it may be time to start looking for a replacement before it is too late.

Change can be a good thing for you and your company.