Do an internet search for “CEO leadership” and in less than a second you will be presented with over 200 million results—many of which are articles and information about chief executive officers that run large companies and small businesses. Much less prevalent are details about mid-size companies, and the unique challenges and issues faced by these CEOs.

In an effort to better understand the leadership qualities and styles of middle market CEOs, and to find out how they lead their organizations through growth and transformation, The Bailey Group interviewed 25 of them in the past year; most from Minnesota-based companies that generate between $30 million and $1 billion in revenue.

We sought patterns to CEO success, issues, skills and needs, specifically as they relate to leading people. As we conducted these interviews, we learned that the challenges faced by these companies carry different weight and play out differently than those of their smaller and larger counterparts. And because risk and reward can be seen and felt faster than in larger corporations, most mid-size companies continue to grow year after year, even while continuing to scale operations and resources to meet internal and external needs.

We also found that strong themes around middle market CEO effectiveness emerged:

1. They build strong executive teams who can lead strategy to execution and break down silos for cultures of collaboration.
2. They create jobs, take their work personally, and make communities stronger with their presence and participation.
3. They are passionate and competitive achievers and innovators who are committed to excellence.

To learn more about our research, read our CEO White Paper: Leadership Effectiveness & Characteristics of Success – What Sets Minnesota’s Middle Market CEOs Apart