There are almost 200,000 CEOs in the USA and, for that number, there are a whole lot more people dreaming about that title.

A CEO is an impressive job. They sit at the head of a company, often something they’re passionate about, with an impressive salary. Many try to reach that position and most fail.

So what sets apart the people that get there?

There are some traits of a CEO that you’ll need to have if you ever want the same title. These are what sets them apart.

  1. Confidence

One of the most obvious traits of a good CEO is confidence. You need to believe in yourself and your company because if you don’t, how can you convince other people to?

Good CEOs push forward with their ideas and come across as very confident when you meet them. This is because they need to be. They’re in a leadership position, need to inspire consumers and employees alike.

If you’re not a particularly confident person but dream of being a CEO, this is what to work on first.

  1. Adaptability

CEOs will need to be adaptable. We live in times that are always changing, so one of the key traits of a CEO is being able to keep up with that — and inspire their company to do the same.

To read more about how a company should adapt to change, head over to Ignitena.com and consider what you’re doing right and wrong.

  1. Good Communicator 

One of the CEO traits that can be hard to master is being a good communicator.

You should strike the balance between tact and honesty. A CEO should be able to communicate their ideas clearly whilst being inclusive.

They should also be able to take complex ideas and break them down for those who may not be as advanced or knowledgeable in their field.

This can be a skill that takes a while to master, but it will be invaluable in a variety of different situations.

  1. Transparency

One of the successful CEO traits that people often don’t think is necessary is transparency.

There’s nothing wrong with being tactful or careful when revealing information. However, you should never deliberately hide information from people, especially when it could be damaging.

You should be willing and open to talk, especially when you’ve made an error.

  1. Openness to Learning

The downfall of anyone on a career ladder is thinking that they know everything.

Because we live in a world that’s always changing, there are always new advances being made in any industry. The moment you think you know it all is the moment you’ll start to go downhill.

Be humble and open to learning from other people. There’s always something that someone can teach you, and bearing this in mind will make you better at your job.

  1. Inspiring

You should be an inspiring figure for both those in your company and those outside of it.

You’ll be looked to as an authority if you want your organization to be successful in the industry. If you can combine most of these traits and inspire your employees, this will be huge.

You can achieve this by practicing transparency and humility, but also by incentivizing your employees! Ultimately, you shouldn’t be seen as an untouchable force in the company.

You should be approachable. That’s what will make you a good CEO.

  1. Willingness to Make Mistakes

You shouldn’t only be open to learning from your mistakes, but you should be willing to make them in the first place.

Too many horrible mistakes, of course, don’t make for a good CEO. However, no one gets to that position without taking risks.

Sometimes, you have to think outside of the box and try something that no one has tried before. That willingness to take a risk because you believe in something is what will set you apart.

  1. Resilience

Resilience is also very important if you want to be a good CEO.

Times will be hard. There’s a lot of pressure involved in being at the top of a company and it can be hard to cope with.

You also might face a lot of criticism when you make mistakes — more than anyone else would.

You need to be able to move on and be resilient when times are difficult. This is, perhaps, one of the most important CEO personality traits because it’s one you’ll have to utilize a lot.

  1. Problem-Solving

Sometimes people picture CEOs as having very little to do with a company and just sitting at the top while others do all the work for them. Not so!

As a CEO, you’ll have to make a lot of decisions for the company, and they’ll often be difficult. That’s why you not only need to be knowledgeable about the industry you’re in but a good problem-solver.

Many decisions will come down to you for the final say, and you need to be able to make a decision that’s based on your knowledge as well as different advice.

You’ll also have to utilize this trait a lot to work your way up to CEO in the first place.

  1. Reading People

Being a CEO is often about people. You’ll have to keep employees happy and likely liaise with other people in the industry, striking deals and allying.

Reading people and having empathy will be very important traits in that regard. If you’re not a people person or find it hard to judge someone’s reactions, you could have a tough time with the position of CEO.

These Are the Necessary Traits of a CEO

These are the necessary traits of a CEO, though there are many others that are helpful. Ultimately, you have to learn how to be a confident person who can solve problems and bounce back from mistakes.

For more business, tech, and other tips, check out the rest of our site.