SUCCESSFUL EXECUTIVES – WHAT’S THEIR SECRET?

Company executives may look successful from the outside, but how they feel tells a different story. 

What you see and what you get are not always one and the same.  Surprising as it is, many men and women in senior positions feel insecure about their areas of responsibility.  They may look confident and able, but the reality is very different.

Behind the façade, many executives feel they’re lacking in certain skills and aren’t always equipped to deal with all the demands being made of them.     

A study done recently which examined the most common issues under discussion during business coaching sessions were motivating others, stress management, fulfillment, conflict resolution and relationships.  These are all key aspects in achieving success in today’s fast paced, challenging, rapidly evolving and increasingly complex corporate environment.  As important, is getting these aspects right in order for busy executives to find balance in their work/home lives.

A study on executive coaching conducted in Australia revealed some very interesting trends.  Of the almost 1 000 executive coaches studied, 100% of them reported that they discussed topics such as conflict management and motivating staff and 86% discussed ‘family or personal relationships’, particularly matters of life/work balance.  On the flip side, 63% of coaches said that ‘operational management’ was a topic that came up only ‘occasionally’ and 87% of the group said the topic of ‘financial management’ of the business was ‘never or rarely’ discussed.   

This research throws out some intriguing observations.  Quite simply, it seems, most executives want to learn tools and techniques for managing people.  They may be succeeding in business, but they’re not quite as successful when it comes to interacting with others - in the workplace and in their personal environments.

Many believe that successful managers are emotionally intelligent rather than technically skilled.  Studies show that only about 40% of employees’ potential is used, so surely if someone was able to increase that by just a few per cent, the revenue improvements and value-add from the employees would increase significantly?.  It may be that by improving the ‘softer’ skills of management, ie their people and relationship skills, the productivity and value would improve. 

Annual spending on coaching in the US is estimated at around one billion dollars, with many of the world’s most admired organisations (some studies put the figure at least 30 – 40% of Fortune 500 companies) making ongoing investment in coaching.  The industry is growing at around forty per cent a year, according to the Economist, with a diversity of industries all reporting positive impacts from their investment.

In the words of a leading Perth corporate coach, Derek Haayema, coaching is a valuable investment in achieving goals and helping people to become better than good – to become great.  There’s little doubt that improved interpersonal skills, improved communication skills, better personal organisation, motivation, clarity on personal and professional goals and challenges, reduced stress and a stronger personal foundation can vastly improve an executive’s performance.   With a little help, executives can become a lot more confident and more productive – bringing the best out of themselves and out of the people around them.