In my recent podcast series, Think Like a CEO, I explored what it really means to step into the role of a CEO. And here’s the important part: this isn’t about holding a corporate title. It’s about how you lead your business. Whether you’re an advisor building a practice, a service-based business owner, or leading a team, stepping into your CEO role is a shift in how you think, prioritize, and execute.

The conversations revealed a powerful truth: thinking like a CEO is the starting line. But what separates the good from the truly great?

Stepping into Q4, this distinction matters more than ever. The final months of the year are when leaders are tested. Urgency, competing priorities, and the pressure to finish strong can pull attention in different directions. It is in these moments that the habits of great CEOs stand out. They rise above reactivity and lead with clarity, focus, and courage.

GREAT CEOS

Here’s what consistently sets them apart:

1. Think longer-term, but act decisively.
They resist the trap of urgent reactivity. Instead, they prioritize and move forward with clarity, balancing vision with execution.

2. Build organizations that don’t revolve around them.
They delegate. They trust. They create systems, roles, and cultures that allow the business to thrive without their constant involvement.

3. Make hard decisions early.
They don’t avoid discomfort. They face team misalignment, client fit, and strategic pivots head-on before it costs them more.

4. Know their highest value and protect it.
They stop spending time on tasks that could be done by others and instead focus their energy on the work that creates the greatest impact.

5. Evolve their identity.
They don’t just do more, they become someone new. The shift from founder, advisor, or business owner to CEO is a mental one first.

6. Embrace simplicity.
Not inaction, but clarity. They let go of overcomplication and focus on what really drives growth and culture.

THINK LIKE A CEO PODCAST SERIES

If you want to go deeper on what it takes to think and lead like a CEO, I encourage you to listen to the four conversations in my Think Like a CEO podcast series:

• Think Like A CEO – What Happens When You’re Kicked Out of Your Own Company with Jennifer Barnes
• Think Like A CEO – Your Business Keeps Breaking Because It’s Ready to Grow with Ashley Connell
• Think Like A CEO: What It Takes to Build a $1B Financial Firm with Lauren Oschman
• Think Like A CEO: From $0 to $50 Million: How One Sales-Focused CEO Built Two Successful Companies with Kyle Wilson

As you reflect on your own leadership heading into year-end, ask yourself: Which of these practices could change the way I show up as a CEO of my business? Strengthening even one of them could transform how you finish this year and set the tone for the next.

If you’re ready to run your business with greater clarity, confidence, and focus, I’d love to partner with you. Through one-on-one coaching, we can define your priorities, strengthen your leadership, and create the structure you need to scale sustainably and lead at your highest level. Email me at kristin@kristinburke.com, and we can explore if coaching is the right fit for you.