Who's afraid...?
Ten tips for talking to your CEO
Your CEO wants to speak to you.
If that sentence makes you nervous, in a child vs headteacher sort of way, you are not alone. Suddenly having to talk to the person who (metaphorically) signs your paychecks can be a daunting prospect.
Not least because they could fire you on some diabolical whim (although they probably won’t).
The sudden expectation of you to show your best side, not embarrass yourself, and play it cool, all at once, can lead to you sweating profusely while babbling nonsense.
No matter what though, there is a good chance that your CEO is a human being. We’re talking at least 80% odds. So that means you can theoretically get along with them, just like anybody else.
So here are the best things to keep in mind if you’re destined to talk to your CEO.
- Don’t speak jargon
Chances are he or she knows way less about your specialised area than you do. So avoid laying on all your fanciest terminology with a trowel. Time is a valuable commodity to any CEO, so cutting to the quick is always a quality they appreciate.
- Do act confident
Even if you feel less confident than the sixth player at Russian roulette, you should try your best to project yourself as somebody who has their stuff mostly together, rather than someone a light breeze will carry out the door.
CEOs did not get where they are by lacking confidence, so they (as do all people) have certain expectations drawn from their own experience. Whether or not they perceive themselves as a big deal, they probably won’t react well to you being starstruck. At best they will be understanding but disappointed, at worst they will see you as unprofessional and incompetent.
- Don’t overstay your welcome
Remember when we said their time is a valuable commodity? Yeah, best not to hang on awkwardly like whatever season of The Simpsons we’re on now. It just leaves them with a bad taste in the mouth (your final impression is at least as long lasting as your first) and makes you look like you don’t know what you are doing.
The potential for gaffes or your mask of confidence falling away increases dramatically every second past the ideal time to leave gracefully.
- Do address them appropriately
Chances are they will be happy with a first name basis, but if everybody around you is calling her “Your Worshipful Majesty Emma”, then just play along. Don’t just rush in and drop their first name, followed up by a “I can call you Emma, can’t I?”
- Don’t over-prepare
No cheat sheets tucked in sleeves, or learning lines in front of a mirror. Any CEO can smell a prepared monologue a mile off, and isn’t interested in an academic lecture.
If they wanted a chat about something, that’s exactly what they wanted: a chat. Not a PowerPoint presentation. Don’t be afraid to speak on the fly and react to their questions.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t brush up on any relevant figures or facts that you might get asked about. A chance to demonstrate you’re on top of everything to the most important person in the business shouldn’t be wasted.
- Do take criticism carefully
Don’t let your confidence look like arrogance. Slamming down any criticisms, even if they aren’t justified, may make your look overly defensive and will probably backfire — even if you are correct. Nobody likes to be made to look stupid, so handle any criticism or misguided feedback with kid gloves.
You know this is a person you don’t want to piss off. But also be aware that handling it carefully doesn’t mean folding like a pack of cards at the first sign of negativity. Hold your ground reasonably and respectfully, and it speaks better of your overall character.
Also remember that conceding some points gives you currency to resist conceding on others, which may be useful later.
- Don’t be a suck up
Compliments, subtly done, are obviously a possibility. But laying it on with a trowel, or even a small spoon, is a surefire way to leave a bad impression. It makes you look insincere, and like you’re looking for something in return.
The best way to impress is to be impressive. Not show yourself up as an Olympic class toady.
- Do ask questions
It shows you are engaged and interested if you can bounce back a few questions. You become an active participant rather than a passive recipient. That puts you on a more level footing, and makes you seem more worthy of respect.
- Don’t be narrow-minded
Remember your CEO deals with all aspects of the company, not just HR. Attempting to twist everything to fit the HR agenda rather than showing awareness of issues in other areas of the business makes you look a bit clueless. You want to be showing yourself as on board with the whole program, and not just your part of it.
Every time you demonstrate broader awareness of business issues, you raise yourself in the esteem of a CEO who has to be a master of all trades, rather than a master of one. Who knows, it may even positively impact how much trust is placed in HR or you individually further down the line.
- Do say thanks
While you are always looking to put yourself on as even a keel as possible during your conversation, it doesn’t hurt to show your thanks at the end. It shows that you acknowledge their position, and that you appreciate their time.
Not only is it simple politeness, but it is also a little kickback to their ego which is always a good way to end meeting somebody. Always better to be remembered as the competent and respectful employee than the competent but sort of rude employee.
Just don’t fall onto all fours outside their office afterwards from relief. Especially not if they have a glass door.
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