Stewart, Cooper & Coon-placing executives in $200K+ positions

  • ABOUT SC&C
  • CONTACT US
  • CLIENT LOGIN
  • STAFF LOGIN
  • MY CART
    No products in cart.
  • Home
  • Individual Executive Placement
    • Client Profile & Successes
      • Video Testimonials
      • Placed Client Interviews
      • Online Reviews
      • Client Success Stories
    • Cutting Edge Branding
      • Why Use an Executive Coach & Career Strategist
      • Career WebFolio©
      • The ViewPoint©
      • The Master Interview©
    • The Basics
      • 8 Executive Career Change Dilemmas
      • Placement Data
      • It’s Not About Job Search!
  • Boards of Directors
  • Military Transition
    • Unique Challenges –Military To Civilian Transition
    • General Officer Program
    • ETAP / CTAP Schedule
    • Meet Military Team
    • Contact
  • Retained Search
    • Why Choose SC&C
    • SC&C Search Process
    • Completed Searches
    • Meet Our Team
  • Career Resources
  • Home
  • Career
  • Help for the Overwhelmed Executive
October 5, 2023

Help for the Overwhelmed Executive

Help for the Overwhelmed Executive

by fredcoon / Monday, 22 May 2017 / Published in Career, General executive advice, Professional/Personal Life Balance

The role of the executive is undoubtedly a demanding, and concurrently stressful, position. From an outside perspective, it is often difficult to perceive the heavy and intricate workload with which executives must contend. Both in and out of the office, those in high-level executive positions are frequently expected to devote the majority of their time, attention, and efforts to the company. While most executives possess the drive and knowledge to solve the issues faced by most organizations, the intensity of the position itself, can inevitably take its toll over time.

As befits the situation, there has been a plethora of research and psychological studies devoted to the issues faced by the leaders of industry; and rightfully so, considering that a high-profile company can hardly be expected to function at optimal levels if its top leadership is suffering. Unfortunately, one of the most common drawbacks to the type of individual most suited to the demands of executive positions is a concurrent isolationism.  This sometimes results in a staunch refusal to show (or even acknowledge) any measure or degree of weakness, genuine or perceived. Indeed, it is often the mere perception of weakness that disturbs corporate leaders, perhaps more than any other demonstrated issues.

As a result, many executives have a tendency to bury and ignore their troubles until they reach a boiling point and simply cannot maintain the facade any longer. We’ll take a look at a few primary (and underlying) causes and behaviors that can lead to this type of drastic situation, in the hopes that by understanding, they may be caught and recognized early.

Two Main Issues

Isolation:

  • An executive at the top of his or her game has very few opportunities to interact with others on an equal plane or to experience the benefits of having community at work. Most often, when an executive meets with others at a similar station, the scenario is one of competition, and the resulting dynamic is rarely one of security or affable companionship. Nevertheless, who else should an executive to look toward to understand their unique pressures and expectations placed upon them? Being at the top equals leadership, and competent leaders are not known for expressing their doubts, real concerns, and personal issues to their subordinates. In fact, it can be quite lonely at the top.

Facade:

  • This issue is rather multifaceted. It is not to say that an executive is a wholly artificial person, but the demands of their position are reflected by the image they are expected to maintain and present; both internally and externally to the company. With this in mind, there is very little opportunity for an individual working upwards of 80 hours per week to find much space for genuine engagement and honest expression of their core values; which can be an especially tricky subject, considering many executives often find their personal values at direct contrast with the role they must fulfill.

Solution Oriented

The following are some basic, yet effective highlights, to help combat the fatigue and distress that such a demanding position inevitably confers upon an individual.

  • Develop intentional mindfulness. The value of working mindfully cannot be overstated to guard against seemingly stray or unwanted thoughts which may generate a negative spiral toward doubt and self-condemnation.
  • Give strong attention to your work/life balance.  Of course, you are driven, but remember that moderation and balance in all things is the key to happiness and ultimate success.
  • Seek support. We’ve already discussed how isolating your position can be, so one of the most effective actions you can take for yourself (and your company) is to find that which all human beings need: community. There are multiple outlets for this, both professional and recreational, but we recommend seeking out executive-level conferences and seminars that are specifically geared toward this goal.

Stress management

The astute executive always looks ahead, and in this instance, the greater part of foresight is taking good care of your own well-being.

 

Fred Coon, CEO

Take your job search and LinkedIn profile to new levels and achieve your career goals with LinkedInSecrets.us. Leveraging LinkedIn for Job Search Success 2015 will transform how you use LinkedIn on a daily basis and create a profile that will WOW recruiters and hiring managers.

0
  • Tweet
Tagged under: handling executive stress, how to overcome c-level stress

What you can read next

Creating a Socially Responsible Business
Qualities Shared By Successful Teams According to Google™
Mapping Your Potential: 10 Steps to a Successful Five-Year Business Plan

Notice: Undefined variable: user_ID in /var/www/html/stewartcoopercoon.com/wp-content/themes/kallyas/comments.php on line 73

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Submit Your Resume

Contact Us

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Career Resources
  • Individual Executive Placement
  • Boards of Directors
  • Military Transition
  • Retained Executive Search
  • Contact
  • Sitemap

Our site is SSL enabled, ensuring all communications to and from our website are encrypted and your information secured.

© 1997 - 2023 Stewart, Cooper & Coon, Inc. | 2942 N 24th St | Suite 114-(727) | Phoenix, AZ 85016 |
Phone: 602-385-3000 | Toll Free: 866-883-4200
TOP
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT