What’s in a title?
by Miki SaxonHere’s an equation that doesn’t change: who you are (your MAP) = what you do = what you’re called.
If you’re at the top of a company you’re called CEO.
But what does CEO really mean? Because when it comes to business titles people are creative and the variations are numerous and telling.
Here’s a tiny sample of what I’ve heard over the years from staffers when asked to define CEO based on their’s.
On one hand you have
- Conceited Egomaniacal Overlord;
- Caddish Elitist Obstructionist;
- Controlling Embarrassing Obsessor;
and on the other you have
- Concerned Energetic Overachiever
- Caring Enabling Oddity
- Charismatic Enterprising Optimizer
and inbetween you have a thousands of variations.
If you don’t like your own ‘nicktitle’ then it’s time to change your actions, which means changing your MAP.
And whether you consider that good or bad news, the main point never changes—it’s your choice.
For the sake of your staff and investors, (not to mention family and friends) I hope you choose wisely and well!
Image credit: thelearnr
May 18th, 2012 at 1:17 am
[…] I’m surprised I didn’t delete those three letters years ago when I shared some of the things I’ve heard CEO really means. Call it a major case of […]
May 18th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
I still remember the first time I saw the title Chief Executive ‘Officer’ . . . when did we all join the military anyway?
May 21st, 2012 at 9:30 am
Hi Julie, thanks for sharing; that never crossed my mind.