If you’re a high-achieving woman in corporate America, your end goal is probably to become a CEO of a big company. It’s a long road that requires a great deal of hard work and dedication to rise to this level, but even then, only the smallest percentage of people make it. There is a tremendous amount of responsibility involved, and you’ll have to overcome many challenges before you get to the c-suite. It takes a specific type of person, with numerous skills and education to be an effective and competent CEO. If you’re hoping to be at the helm of a successful company one day, these are the fundamental qualities that you will need.

Luck Factors In

Yes, there are those rags to riches stories of people that came from nothing to build their own companies, but those people are in the minority. Jos Opdeweegh, a CEO himself, uses a clever sports analogy to explain why luck is so important. The world of soccer is open to anybody. You can play with an old ball on any patch of ground that you can find. The world of Formula 1, on the other hand, is a lot more closed. It costs a lot of money to get into the sport and so the people at the top aren’t necessarily the best in the world; they’re very good drivers who also have the good luck and opportunities that get them to the top. Opdeweegh says that business is more like Formula 1. You need the skills and experience to get there, but even the best people might not progress due to office politics, connections, lack of formal education or a failure by the company to recognize their potential. That doesn’t mean you won’t become a CEO, but be aware that you don’t always get by on your attributes alone. The best person for the job doesn’t always land it.

Communication Skills

Communication is key in any business role, but it’s especially important for a CEO. You’re the one that is trying to decide on the direction of the company, and it’s up to all of the people below you to carry out that vision. They can’t do that if you can’t effectively communicate your expectations of them. Boosting morale is another critical part of your role as a CEO; you need to communicate with your employees and let them know when they’re doing things right, as well as where they could improve. If you aren’t praising your employees for their successes, you’re likely to see a significant dip in morale and productivity in the company.

Risk Taking

The companies that find the most success are the ones that are leading edge and are willing to take risks. You can build a reasonably successful company that coasts along and does just fine, but if you want to take things to the next level, you’ve got to be prepared to take a leap. People that don’t have the confidence to do that likely won’t make a good CEO. It’s also essential that you know how to work out which risks are worth it, and which ones are not.

Believe e, there are many, many more requirements to become a CEO, but these are three basic ones to be aware of early in your journey. Good luck!

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