The 10 scariest things in the life of a CEO

This Halloween, let’s look at the moments that keep CEOs up at night.

1. Realizing you don’t really know what you’re doing.

Imposter syndrome hits everyone, but when you’re the CEO, there’s nowhere to hide. Research finds this is a common experience for CEOs.

2. Reopening the annual goals you haven’t looked at in a month.

Those promises you made to the board don’t age well when ignored. They fester into cobwebbed nightmares unless you realign around them at least each week.

3. Discovering a toxic manager has been driving your best people away.

By the time you notice, the damage is done. A bad employee can only do so much harm, but a bad manager can eat away at whole sectors of the team.

4. Suspecting the board has lost confidence in you.

The meetings feel different. The questions are sharper, the encouraging comments fewer. Are you being paranoid? It’s hard to say.

5. Learning about a huge overrun right before the board meeting.

This has happened to me (and it was a BIG overrun). Not fun.

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