“The Chief Cultural Officer (CCO)’s mission is to be directly accountable for the health and well-being of the company.” John Ruh
Regardless, if you are a small startup or have thousands of employees, the mission is the same for any CCO: take care of the company and support it so that it takes care of its customers. As Price Prichard wisely said, “Customers are our only source of security.”
Why?
The financial well-being of your employees/ their families, and everyone associated with the business, is dependent on the quality of your decisions as CCO of the Company. This is a profound responsibility!
Three Common Obstacles that Get in The Way!
- You Are “Busy, Busy, Busy”
As Ray Silverstein, founder of PRO, likes to say. Being busy is NOT a strategy! And when one neglects the strategic future needs, the Golden Goose, and all players needlessly suffer. www.johnruh.com/golden-goose-is-your-company/ - You don’t understand why you are on the payroll.
If you are a founder, president, CEO, chairman, or even perhaps general manager, your role is Chief Cultural Officer. While most of the company operates tactically, your accountability is to balance both the tactical and strategic, all in alignment with your stated culture.
Note: Everyone on the payroll needs to know their role, the mission of their role, and key expectations. - You have the wrong Structure in Place
If your organization is built on an outdated entrepreneurial or Hierarchy model where” all roads lead to you”, you’re likely overwhelmed and underleveraged. This is a red flag! You can never say “I have no time for this role”. As CCO, this strategic role must be your top priority. Even in the early stages, you can, and should, create a structure that revolves around the customer. What does a customer-focused model look like? Read www.johnruh.com/do-you-have-the-right-structure/
So What’s Next?
Let’s start with a conversation to discuss your current culture, structure, your role, and how well both are aligned with supporting and protecting the company, or what we like to call the Golden Goose.
Written by John Ruh
John M. Ruh and Associates are mission based business advisors who partner with growth oriented leaders to create the right P.S.T. support: the right People, the right Structure and the right Tools.