Most Important Skills for a Founder and CEO at Konnekted Coworking
For a CEO, "focus, time management, commitment, and patience" are paramount, especially given the constant demands and lack of external direction; the ability to delegate and make quick, informed decisions based on summarized information, rather than mastering every skill personally, is key to success in this role.
Executive/Leadership, Time Management, Focus, Commitment, Decision-Making
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nickolaus Violin
Founder & CEO
Konnekted Coworking
Cal State Northridge, 2017
UCAL Anderson | MBA
Marketing
Hospitality, Restaurants & Events, Real Estate
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Time management is crucial for CEOs who often work long hours and juggle multiple tasks.
2. Focus and commitment are essential for self-starters who need to manage their time effectively and meet deadlines.
3. CEOs should prioritize leadership and external business focus rather than mastering every single skill; they need to effectively delegate and make quick, informed decisions based on summaries provided by their team.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
Patience, time management, commitment, and focus are essential. Focus is particularly challenging for me due to ADHD, as I'm often pulled in many directions. This makes sustained focus even more crucial.
I try to answer emails promptly, but if I'm in a productive flow, I won't interrupt it. However, emails are usually more important, so balancing these priorities, along with focus, time management, and commitment, is key.
Being a CEO means you're self-directed. You don't have someone telling you what to do, though I feel I'm accountable to those below me. My motivation comes from people counting on me.
If you aren't a self-starter who can begin your day at nine without external direction, it will be a struggle. Unless your business allows for unconventional hours, a CEO or founder aiming for success will work at least 12-hour days, especially in the beginning. Therefore, managing your time and making commitments are vital.
Those four areas – focus, time management, commitment, and the last one I mentioned [unclear] – are paramount. The rest can be learned. A CEO shouldn't be focused on acquiring numerous skills; that's not their role.
A CEO's primary function is to be a great leader and consider the business's external perception. They concentrate on the external aspects of the business. Having specific skills allows you to focus on that aspect without distraction.
If you try to master every skill – Excel, customer service, presentations, marketing copy – you won't be an effective CEO. You need to understand these areas and be able to discuss them with your team, whether it's your subordinates, marketing VP, or others.
When your team is reviewing data and analytics, you won't have time for the details. You need the summary, the key points, to make decisions. You are a decision-maker and need to make them quickly. Time management, focus, and dedication are crucial skills for this decision-making process. Ultimately, that's what a CEO does – makes decisions.