Job title - running small company

[purplescarf18]

Hi
I am working for a small, new, charity. I am the manager/CEO/head honcho or whatever. There is a board of directors who I answer to, and we have about 2 employees, but that number will grow as we expand activities.

I keep getting asked for my job title in forms, etc.

I feel like an idiot calling myself a CEO, but haven't come up with an acceptable, professional sounding alternative.

Please help me oh wise mumsnetters.

CEO is accurate and scalable, it may seem silly now, but 15 people into your growth strategy will it still seem silly?

Alternatives would be Operations Director, or Chief Operating Officer but would you then want to change it in a year to CEO if your growth plan pays off?

Hmmm I don't think we will ever have 15 employees. Maybe a maximum of 5 or so, some part time. It's a charity that is filling a gap but it's a limited gap.

I like operations director, will think about that. I don't see an issue with changing my job title, its just what I put on my email signature or forms. When I meet people I can easily avoid the title issue, Hi, I am purplescarf, I run xxxx.

I also like director but our board is a board of directors and I am not on the board.

When I hear CEO I think of huge companies like google or nestle :) . I don't know if I would expect the local cafe or printing company or a small local charity to have a CEO. I guess for profit non public companies generally have owners though.

Side question - are your directors also trustees?

Yes, they are actually called trustees. I just think of them as board members.

I’m in a similar position. I’m the Chair person.

what’s the legal set up of your charity?

ours is a CIO.

I also think CEO is adequate, and it’s more your personal thoughts blocking you from getting over it and going with it.

you say you want an acceptable professional alternative- but acceptable to whom? Your inner critic or external bodies?

You’ve been deemed worthy of this leadership position. It’s a compliment and we should always accept compliments rather than shy away with a ‘not worthy’ attitude.

operations director puts you on a par with the other directors. You aren’t. You chair or lead the organisation. It’s like playing down your role and trying to hide.

CEO, Chair, Chief Operating/Operations Officer (COO) whatever you call yourself - you got this.

We have a CEO, there are 5 employees. I think it’s fine as a title

I work for a large multinational company and Director title just reflects a level of seniority. We also have Senior Directors, Heads of..., Chief bottle washer Having a title Director doesn't necessarily mean you're on the Board.
Go with CEO, why diminish your role?

The thing is if you don't call yourself the CEO you will constantly having people try to get through you to the CEO and you will spend energy you don't need to on convincing people you are the corrrect decision maker.

If you don't want to be the CEO but want some other title like chair person then fine. But if you call yourself the Operations director everyone will assume you are something you aren't.

I've known male CEOs who have called themselves CEOs when they have had no staff.

Is this fear about owning the CEO title? (In which case - feel the fear, acknowledge it and step into your power!)

Or is it a genuine concern that the title CEO doesn’t describe what you are?

I'd probably say Managing Director rather than CEO

Yes I thought Managing Director or CEO

Managing director sounds better to me. CEO sounds more appropriate for a big organisation where they don't need to get involved with day to day running of things.

I would go with Operations Manager.
Avoids CEO and the word director but lets people know that you are running the show.

Another vote for MD if CEO doesn't appeal. If you call yourself Operations Director people will assume there is someone above you making the decisions.

I like Managing Director. I guess I shouldn't worry if people think I am on the board. I just checked it out and the board members are called both trustees and directors. Also, the board has a chair person so I would not go with that.

It is very peculiar to not have the CEO (or whatever you want to call the most senior person in the organisation) on the board. I was going to suggest Managing Director, but with you not being on the board that would be a bit odd.

I do something similar (not at a charity though) and am an 'Operations Director'. There are 8 of us working here and I would describe my role as 'doing all the things that need doing so that everyone else can get on and do their job'!

I work for an organisation with a very similar set-up (reporting directly to the board, staff of 2). I just use the title Manager.

Legally I cannot be on the board and take a salary. Charity regulator rules. Sadly can't afford to work for free. :)

I'm in exactly the same position, OP. I look after the day to day running of the organisation, reporting directly to the chair and the board. We have one other staff member who works on a particular service delivery. While I'm not technically senior to her, I'm 5 years longer in the organisation so people tend to defer to me. I started out as Operations Manager and i think the role has expanded past that but not quite to CEO level, despite being company secretary and providing advice to the board. I can't be MD as I'm not a member of the board of directors (trustees). I feel a bit silly being the head of operations when it's only me doing the operations! It's a difficult one.

You are the CEO, so use that.

Anything else would be confusing.

Don't belittle yourself.

You are getting mixed up with the MLM selling mums who don't even have a proper business etc.

lol I don't really know or care very much about MLM mums. If they want to call themselves a ceo, let them.

Its not just admin work, for example, I might be running and hosting events, greeting people, make sure it is running smoothly. So that is partly why I feel CEO is wrong.

That isn't actually true. A paid employee of a charity can be a trustee, but there are a few hoops to jump through.

This.

But if you aren't a director them you are technically an officer and that makes you CEO.

I'd go with COO - Chief Operations Officer. No confusion then with Director etc