In times of crisis, the role of a CEO transforms from that of a visionary strategist to a decisive leader.

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Becoming a wartime CEO requires a unique set of skills, mindset, and strategies to steer the company through challenges and emerge stronger on the other side. 

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And if you feel like you’re too soft and don’t have what it takes, we got you.

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Here's a 12-step guide on how to become a wartime CEO.

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1. Prepare your battle plan 

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Understand that wartime leadership demands agility, resilience, and decisiveness. Shift your mindset from peacetime comfort to wartime urgency. Tough decisions must be made swiftly and decisively to ensure the company's survival.

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2. Rally your troops 

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Surround yourself with a diverse team of talented individuals who complement your skills and share your vision. Empower them to take ownership of their roles. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resilience.

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3. Issue orders with clarity

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Prioritize transparent and concise communication with your team. Keep them informed about the challenges ahead. Explain the reasons behind critical decisions. Share the company's strategy to navigate through adversity with them.

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4. Engage in strategic maneuvers

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Develop a structured decision-making process that balances data-driven analysis with intuition. Act decisively, even in the face of uncertainty. The only way to steer the company in the right direction is by making the calls you consider necessary.

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5. Secure your supply lines

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Allocate resources strategically. Focus on initiatives that drive long-term value and sustainable growth. But don’t forget the short-term, you’re at war. Identify areas where costs can be optimized without compromising core operations or employee well-being.

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6. Adapt to the changing battlefield

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Stay agile and flexible in your approach. When facing hardships, it’s essential to be willing to pivot strategies, reallocate resources, and embrace innovation. Crises change the rules constantly, so having a plan but not being too strict about it is key.

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7. Lead from the frontlines

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Demonstrate resilience, determination, and integrity in the face of adversity. Show empathy towards your team members. Acknowledge their efforts and inspire them to stay focused and motivated during challenging times. How will the rest make it if you don’t?

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8. Keep your eyes on the objective

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Identify key objectives that align with the company's mission and values. Hard times will probably mean you won’t get to do everything, but some things need to be non-negotiable. Pursue them while minimizing distractions and non-essential activities.

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9. Deploy your defensive Tactics

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Anticipate potential risks and develop robust contingency plans to mitigate them. Prepare for worst-case scenarios. Have backup plans in place to ensure business continuity. Wartime means everything could collapse, and you need to be ready.

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10. Fortify your defenses

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Cultivate a resilient mindset within your team. Foster a culture of perseverance and optimism. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. View setbacks as temporary obstacles rather than insurmountable barriers. Everyone needs to be on the same page.

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11. Seek wise counsel

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Don't hesitate to seek mentorship and guidance from experienced leaders. Learn from their insights, experiences, and best practices. Applying their knowledge to your own journey will enrich your leadership methods and improve your skills.

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12. Celebrate victories and learn from defeats

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Acknowledge and celebrate small wins along the way. Recognizing the hard work and dedication of your team members, even if the storm hasn’t passed, is fundamental. And embrace failures as valuable learning experiences. Extract lessons that can inform future decision-making and strategy from them.

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Gear up

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Becoming a wartime CEO requires strategic foresight, decisive leadership, and unwavering resilience. 

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It means becoming less lenient. Trying to keep oversight of entire operations. Everything goes toward the same goal.

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Ensuring the company’s survival.

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While nothing can guarantee results, start by ticking these 12 boxes. Make sure you’re taking the necessary steps to prepare yourself for the challenges to come.

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This may be war. But don’t lose your center. The company looks up to you.

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To hear from a CEO who had to shift from a peacetime to a wartime mindset, check out this week’s episode of TOP CEO with Tome Biosciences’ CEO.

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Ever thought about creating your own thought leadership content? At TOP Thought Leader, we amplify new and established voices so they can become pioneers of their generation. Get in touch with us and embark on your journey!