How to be the best CEO you can be

The saying 'start small' doesn't mean think small; set big, bold and exciting goals.

As an entrepreneur builds a company, the focus on the envisioned growth is definitively the main priority. However, what may appear out of nowhere through expansion is a new vital role that must be fulfilled: the weighted title of CEO.
Obviously, every business owner wants success but it is not essentially the first thought that comes to mind about how their role might expand as the company does. Learning to be a better CEO is key for entrepreneurs who don't set off to be managers and have fallen into the role by virtue of their own creation. Being a CEO takes vision, resilience, trust, determination and hard work. Below are the top nine lessons from my experience.
Learn to ask what's important: Spending your time dwelling on details largely inconsequential to productivity and positive business outcomes is not the best use of time. Get into the habit of identifying three major priorities at any one time. We all have a backlog of small tasks, but it is key to not become a victim of your to-do list. Develop daily amnesia: ask yourself what is most important every day.
Focus on stakeholder value: This is ultimately what will keep your business alive. If you are passionate about your work, it's easy to become absorbed in details and lose sight of what you are there to do as CEO - drive stakeholder value. Create value for your customers, value for your team and value for your shareholders.
Tell stories: The narrative is important for your team, your stakeholders, and your clients. It is the best way to get your message across and convey passion. Avoid buzzwords and heavy corporate language. Keep it human, keep it genuine. I'm a believer in charming those around you. Storytelling allows you to relate to people, not spitting jaron.
Have a deep sense of purpose: Know the difference you are making to the world, and the lives of others. A simple exercise is to ask yourself if your business disappeared tomorrow, who would it impact and why? We're built on the foundations of spreading love and happiness to the world, both through how we empower and nurture our team, to the loving memories we create for our clients.
Be the gatekeeper: Don't confuse delegation with gatekeeping. You need to be the ultimate gatekeeper in your company; you are the one defining and setting the company standards. People will push you to compromise your standards for different reasons. Don't be tricked, and stay true to yourself.
Think big: The saying "start small" doesn't mean think small; sSet big, bold and exciting goals. If you set the goalpost low, you will never be anything better than average. Stretch staff beyond their limits. They may complain that you expect too much, but in the end they will thank you for how you are helping them to grow. There is no greater reward than helping your employees achieve what they thought was unachievable.
Self-reflect: Excellent leaders are extremely self-reflective and place high expectations on themselves. Don't doubt yourself in front of your team. Doubt yourself when you go home and look in the mirror. Figure out what your team needs from you. If you're not stepping up every day, you will remain stagnant.
Serve others: Your job as a CEO is to serve others more than they serve you. Stop thinking about what you need from people and ask them what they need from you. Figure out what your customers need, what your team needs, and what your shareholders need. Then help them make it happen.
Develop a thick skin: Being CEO of a business - especially if you are the founder - is an emotional roller coaster. You will have some very low moments. Don't let the emotional pressure break you. People will read you better than you think, and if they smell vulnerability and weakness, you wield less power.
The writer is CEO of Forever Rose London. Views expressed are his own and do not reflect the newspaper's policy.