OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This ESL lesson plan on company leadership and CEOs offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for advanced C1 students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss the role of CEOs, the challenges they face, their public perceptions, and other topics.
• Expand their vocabulary with key terms related to leadership, accountability, and decision-making.
• Watch a video about the realities of being a CEO and complete comprehension activities.
• Learn and practice business-related collocations through guided discussions and sentence-building exercises.
• Participate in an interactive CEO interview or discussion-based activity that promotes critical thinking.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students begin by discussing what a CEO is, what their role involves, and naming well-known CEOs. They then choose three words from a list (e.g., power, status, leadership, complexity) that best describe a CEO. Next, they examine statements about CEOs—such as whether their job is glamorous or if they are responsible for solving societal problems—and decide if they agree, disagree, or partially agree, justifying their opinions. In the next part, students complete statements from the perspective of a CEO, using a list of verbs and nouns to describe the skills and responsibilities involved in the role. Finally, they discuss the paradoxes of executive decision-making.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a video featuring a leadership expert who dispels the myth that being a CEO is all about wealth and power. He describes how modern leadership is more complex than ever, requiring CEOs to simplify information, take full accountability, and listen effectively. After watching, students answer comprehension questions, including why many people wouldn’t want the job and how business leadership has evolved. In the next task, students complete missing phrases from the video to reinforce key concepts, such as simplifying complexity and embracing accountability. These exercises help students engage with the video's ideas while strengthening their business vocabulary.

DISCUSSION & COLLOCATIONS

Students discuss how accurately the video portrays the reality of being a CEO and whether they personally would want the role. They reflect on past leadership experiences and whether they would be suited for executive positions. In the second activity, students complete sentences about CEOs using verbs and phrasal verbs to form collocations, such as “embrace complexity” and “take accountability.” These exercises reinforce essential language structures related to leadership while encouraging students to analyze the demands of executive roles.

THE LEADERSHIP PLAYBOOK: Q&A WITH A CEO

In the first option, students imagine they are interviewing a well-known CEO and write three to five interview questions. They then swap questions with a classmate and role-play an interview, taking on the perspective of the CEO. A bonus challenge encourages them to incorporate business-related collocations into their questions. In the second option, students engage in discussion topics related to CEOs, such as leadership values, accountability, workplace resilience, sacrifices, and complexity. They reflect on their own experiences and analyze how these concepts apply in professional settings.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ESL LESSON PLAN ON COMPANY LEADERSHIP AND CEOs

Teachers benefit from this ESL lesson plan on company leadership and CEOs because it fosters deep discussion on real-world business leadership while improving students’ professional vocabulary. The structured activities promote active engagement through debates, comprehension exercises, and role-play, ensuring students practice speaking in meaningful ways. The lesson includes business-relevant language and phrases, equipping students with practical skills for professional environments. The variety of tasks supports different learning styles, keeping students motivated and involved. Finally, the interactive elements encourage students to apply leadership concepts personally, making the material both relevant and thought-provoking.

Being a CEO might look glamorous—big paychecks, power, private jets—but the reality? It’s a 24/7 whirlwind of tough decisions, constant pressure, and no easy answers. Adam Bryant, a leadership expert, breaks down why these jobs are harder than ever, why leadership is a balancing act, and why great CEOs must simplify complexity, take full accountability, and master the underrated superpower of listening.