To think most CEOs don’t actually do anything except exploit other people’s work?

[SharpDenimOwl]

The workers build, deliver, sell, innovate… the CEO just takes the glory (and the salary). AIBU to think most CEOs add very little value?

How many CEOs and their work do you have intimate knowledge of?

From my experience absolutely not. Long hours, lots of responsibility, very little time off, wealth of experience, great strategists, communicators and leaders. My partner was a CEO of a global company. I admired him greatly and loved chatting with him about his work. I learned a lot from him. Fantastic leader and an even better man.

Bad decisions by CEOs can destroy a company, sink a local economy, lose thousand of jobs …. You pay well to get good people at the helm

Just counted up, and I have worked closely with nine CEOs in my working life. I would say that six were excellent, two okay, and one was awful.

I've worked with some brilliant CEOs and some not-so brilliant CEOs - same as colleagues at my level of seniority, some have been excellent and great peers, some have been lazy, selfish and fundamentally useless.

Unfortunately, companies also pay well and have terrible people at the helm. My current company is like this.

No money in the world would be enough persuade me to do my boss's CEO job.

Stupid hours, insane amounts of stress, mediating board squabbles and ultimately responsible if anything fucks up.

No thanks.

IME the best leaders step back and "let" staff do their job, use their creativity and other abilities, whilst ultimately bearing the responsibility. If that what you mean, that's exactly what they're supposed to do.

The CEOs I have known have all been inspiring, interested, motivating, empowering people. Their skill was in bringing everyone together to contribute according to their strengths and make sure we all knew clearly where the organisation was heading. When there's been glory to be had they they shared it with the team.

The best CEO I ever knew worked hard to know and be involved in the careers of everyone who worked for him and, when we had works dos, he would serve drinks behind the bar so he could speak to everyone. He was a pretty humble bloke and everyone really respected him and like him in equal measures.

What's the betting that the OP won't be back?

Also, a large part of a CEOs job is outward facing..building relationships with other organisations, ensuring compliance, communication, lobbying, raising capital. The OP doesn't take any of that into account.

Is that you Rachel? Or is it Ange?

Easy answer. Ask yourself what would happen to the business if there wasn't a CEO.