Context

How do you know you are doing an excellent job as a CEO?

In my coaching with CEOs and founders, I often start with a simple mini-test to see where you need to develop.

The Harvard Business Review “CEO Test” lists seven key challenges all CEO’s face.

It is based on research on leadership challenges conducted by CEOs and top executives from the world’s most successful organizations, ranging from Microsoft to Shopify.

If you handle these challenges well, you are likely doing a great job as a CEO.

The CEO Test

Test #1 Can you develop a simple plan for strategy?

Effective leaders can distill their strategy into simple, clear terms that their team can understand and execute.

Test #2 Can you make the culture real — and matter?

Are you walking the talk?

Can you create a high-performance and high-trust culture?

Test #3 Can you build teams that are true teams?

CEOs need to be able to assemble and motivate a high-performing team to execute their vision.

Test #4 Can you lead transformation?

The status quo is enormously powerful, and it's the enemy of change. Can you take everyone with you?

Test #5 Can you really listen?

Danger signals can be faint, and bad news travels slowly. Can you create a feedback-rich environment?

Test #6 Can you deal with crises?

When unexpected disasters strike, successful CEOs need to be able to lead effectively, making hard decisions quickly and efficiently.

Test #7 Can you master the inner game of being a CEO?

Successful CEOs manage the psychological challenges of leadership, including self-doubt, loneliness, and the constant pressure to perform.

With this mini-test, I hope you can see more clearly where you excel and where to improve. I'm here if you’d like support in stepping up to new challenges.

Share this with another leader and compare your notes if this has been helpful.

I’ll see you next week,

Nikolas Konstantin

P.S. Want more…

Here are some things I’ve crafted with care.

If they might help you (or someone you know), please follow your curiosity…

The Yearly Reflection Space for Leaders: The Wise Leadership Retreat

I've opened applications for my 2024 "Wise Leadership Retreat.“ It will take place 28. May - 02. June this year.

What you can expect:

1. Opening workshop on Wise Leadership to gain clarity on your values and goals.

2. Three days of silent meditation training to radically enhance creativity and skills of awareness.

3. Nourishing meals, sauna, and beautiful surrounding lake and nature.

4. Connecting with like-minded leaders facing similar challenges.

5. Closing workshop to harvest new skills and insights for lasting growth.

You could be eligible if you:

• are an inspiring founder or leader (with over 5 years experience)

• have an ongoing reflection practice (coaching, therapy)

• have a meditation practice

If you think you are eligible, apply here

Training the Theory and Art of Meditation: A Beautiful Mind Course

You asked me if I could pack the meditations and lessons of my retreat into a portable format.

Here is my clumsy attempt at distilling the feeling, models, and mental training into something that could work for the online world.

If you want to train your mind but also want to understand the theory from science and meditation traditions, this one is for you: So far, I have included The Guide to the 3 Styles of Meditation E-Book, 4 hours of theory, 10 + Meditations & Retreat Mode (create your own silent retreat with my retreat recordings). Join and let me know what to record next.

The Best of Management and Leadership: Founder Playbooks

As a coach, I scan the best of leadership literature, Harvard Business Review, and mindfulness so you can focus on what matters most—building a thriving organization.

Some of that theory makes it into my library, featuring the best management and leadership theory. So far, I have made those "Founder Playbooks" only accessible to my coachees. But I decided to open it for you. Join the club and tell me what I should write about next.

Leadership is doing the hard things in a human way.

This newsletter follows my quest to figure out how we can do “the hard things in a human way.

Is there a specific leadership challenge you are facing? Answer this mail, and I will do my best to write about it in the next editions.

Stay gentle,
Nikolas