6 Lessons for CEOs from ‘Boy CEO’ Mark Zuckerberg

Chief Executive

Chief Executive

We all know the stale tale of how Mark Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus on Facebook, but the lesson for CEOs is how Zuckerberg became a skillful manager able to scale his company to monster proportions despite his utter lack of management experience. Here's what other CEOs can learn from this self-taught CEO.

The Social Network gave the back story on Mark Zuckerberg: he dropped out of Harvard while developing Facebook and has become one of the most famous, powerful and youngest CEOs in the world. But there’s more to it than that.

Other CEOs know that running a company is more complicated than just developing a product. And there’s more to Facebook than what we saw in the movie. What makes Facebook what it is now is its management, structure, and ability to successfully scale to meet astronomical demand.

Fast Company chronicles a very important part of what has made Mark Zuckerberg such a successful CEO: Zuckerberg made his own evolution as a leader a top priority.

Barely out of his teens and without any management experience, Zuckerberg took many proactive steps to mold himself into the mogul he is today. Here are 6 lessons from Zuckerberg’s rise to fame:

  1. Make your own development a priority – Zuckerberg knew he needed to be a leader (and not just a tech guy) if Facebook was going to go anywhere, so he hired an executive coach to learn management and leadership skills
  2. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes: Zuckerberg says, “So many businesses get worried about looking like they might make a mistake, they become afraid to take any risk. Companies are set up so that people judge each other on failure.”
  3. Create a real office culture: Facebook’s is the Hacker Way and so it “questions assumptions, moves fast, takes risks, shares information and learns from other smart people,” says FC.
  4. Ask questions – The Hacker Way asks employees to question assumptions, which can lead to disruptive innovation
  5. Be open – keeping your employees in the loop on where the company is going (especially in a fast-growing start up) enhances confidence and unity
  6. Involve everyone in hiring practices – when Facebook was growing, everyone helped to bring in new talent and all had interviewing duties (even engineers)- after all your current employees will be the ones working with the new hires

Read: Read: “Boy CEO” Mark Zuckerberg’s Two Smartest Projects Were Growing Facebook And Growing Up


Chief Executive

Chief Executive

Chief Executive magazine (published since 1977) is the definitive source that CEOs turn to for insight and ideas that help increase their effectiveness and grow their business. Chief Executive Group also produces e-newsletters and online content at chiefexecutive.net and manages Chief Executive Network and other executive peer groups, as well as conferences and roundtables that enable top corporate officers to discuss key subjects and share their experiences within a community of peers. Chief Executive facilitates the annual “CEO of the Year,” a prestigious honor bestowed upon an outstanding corporate leader, nominated and selected by a group of peers, and is known throughout the U.S. and elsewhere for its annual ranking of Best & Worst States for Business. Visit www.chiefexecutive.net for more information.

MORE LIKE THIS

  • Get the CEO Briefing

    Sign up today to get weekly access to the latest issues affecting CEOs in every industry

    • upcoming events

    SUBSCRIBE TO THE CEO BRIEFING

    In our weekly newsletter, get insight into the biggest issues facing CEOs, along with strategic ideas, solutions, and interviews.

    GET IN TOUCH

    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    Chief Executive Group

    Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.

    Publications

    Communities

    About

    Roundtable

    Strategic Planning Workshop

    1:00 - 5:00 pm

    We are in a period of rapid change. Customer needs, technologies, competitors and internal capabilities require companies to review and update their strategies for the new realities. In this workshop, strategy experts Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison will show you a systematic approach to strategic planning to help you refine or redefine your business strategy and approach including:

    • Learn what you need to know to develop an effective strategic plan. Put the right players on the strategic planning team.
    • Develop strategies that leverage your company’s unique position in the marketplace. Lift your management team beyond “business as usual” thought processes and activities.
    • Translate your strategies into action. Achieve your vision for success and generate superior financial results.
    • Identify exactly what you need to do now to position your company for future success.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

    Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

    2:00 - 5:00 pm

    Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

    Limited space available.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

    Golf Outing

    10:30 - 5:00 pm
    General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
    Sponsored by UBS

    General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

    The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.