“The only way to become good at something is to practice the ordinary basics for an uncommon length of time. Most people get bored. They want excitement. They want something to talk about, and no- one talks about the boring basics. Boredom encourages you to stop doing what you know works and do something that might work.” – Farnam Street
I’ve had my struggles with ambition.
For those familiar with the Enneagram tool for developing leaders, one of the nine Enneagram types is the Competitive Achiever, which describes individuals whose core motivation is to win or impress.
It has its upsides in that these sorts of individuals get a lot done and create much energy that sweeps others up in their endeavors.
But there is a downside. Impatience.
Over time, I have learned to wait. To not act. To observe and consider my plans more carefully before I pull the trigger. To not put the rush of achievement aside and find a wiser part of me, has a better perspective, and makes better-informed choices.
When it comes to building your CEO skill set, the truth is that it is a long journey. Not a taxing journey – quite the opposite. But becoming a stand-out CEO is not an overnight thing and requires inch-gains over a long period to build a set of competencies that are sufficiently advanced to meet the requirements of the CEO role.
My observation is that impatience can wreck the process of becoming a higher-order CEO.
The desire to move the needle quickly by demanding instant results gets in the way of building this nuanced skill set. Impatience is an energy rush that eviscerates the care, dedication, and fine attention to detail that separates exceptional CEOs from average CEOs.
Take internal communication as an example. You can bang out an email that lays out your requirements. Or you can craft a communique that has a story to it, references anecdotal evidence, uses descriptive metaphors, and generously shares your insight and struggles.
A quick email will do the job, but a communique will move people permanently by being compelling, persuasive, and enticing. The benefits will continue to pay dividends down the line and likely avoid the need for more directive and instructional communication.
You might question the ROT (Return on Time) of such efforts if you are impatient about your craft.
But take the long view and recognize the wisdom in the above quote. You’ll warm to the task, do it excellently, and take one more step toward becoming a higher-order CEO, aggregating the myriad benefits along the way.
