So You Want to Be CEO (HBR Article Collection)

You've got your eye on the top job, and you're certain that's where you belong. But do you know what to do to get there--and succeed? You'll be up against some sobering new realities. For example, the rules of career advancement have changed. Lifetime tenures inside a single company have become virtually extinct. Career ladders can crumble instantly after an acquisition or restructuring. And even among those who make it to the corner suite, many don't last long. You'll need a solid battle plan for ascending to the CEO spot and succeeding there. This HBR Article Collection offers ideas. A preview: If you've been climbing the ladder within your current organization, augment your insider's perspective with an outsider's valuable objectivity--by networking with people beyond your company. Develop a track record of increasing P&L responsibility. And don't forget to master being political--without seeming political. The Harvard Business Review articles in this collection: "Solve the Succession Crisis by Growing Inside-Outsider Leaders" by Joseph L. Bower, "The New Road to the Top" by Peter Cappelli and Monika Hamori, and "Almost Ready: How Leaders Move Up" by Dan Ciampa.