The failures are believed to be due to simple incompetence, rigidity, hubris or narcissism, traits that made the CEOs deaf to the changing world around them. ... Specifically, I outline six factors below that contribute to the CEO's success or failure, based on my research into, and teaching of, top executives.

Why do most CEOs fail?

Chief executives fail most often in three situations: 1) he or she has moved to a much smaller company, either as an entrepreneur or to take over a start-up or early-stage business; 2) the C.E.O.'s small company has grown to middle size; 3) the C.E.O. has been a successful vice president or chief operating officer and ...

Is being a CEO really that hard?

Being a CEO is a lonely hard job. ... There is a price to pay for being a CEO. It's lonely. With the most difficult decisions, although you as CEO may get good input from many, you are alone – entirely alone.