The Executive Skill Set, So What Is that Anyway?
With executive burnout and dissatisfaction being a major cause of poor productivity in companies, it’s time to rethink how we engage in our careers. What is the skill set of highly effective AND SATISFIED executives? What are their most useful attributes? What is the link between work satisfaction and improved productivity and engagement? In the next series of blogs we are going to explore how you can become massively more effective, satisfied and engaged as you navigate your way through the corporate landscape. In this blog we are going to take a look at the skill set of successful executives. In following blogs we’re going to look at the psychology that drives both high level effectiveness and satisfaction.
Brute Force Strategies Are Self -Limiting
In the hypercompetitive world we live in today it’s un-sustainable and inefficient for you to employ brute force work practices because they are ultimately self-limiting. Stress, fatigue, dissatisfaction, disengagement and burnout are often the outcome. Organisations and individuals both need to understand and implement practices that sustain job satisfaction, enthusiasm and engagement because it’s more efficient in both the short term and the long term.
What Is Executive’s Skill Set?
If you were asked to define the top 10 skills of a successful career professional what would you put on that list? You could reasonably expect to include attributes such as commitment, confidence, determination, vision, strategic thinking, communication, honesty, integrity, influence, persuasion, decision making, conflict resolution, relationship building. You might also include the ability to formulate and implement plans, adapt to change, the ability to motivate, to inspire or coach. Of course you would need to include the ability to lead and direct as well as take leadership and direction. Any of these competencies would sit comfortably in the tool kit of highly effective people.
To any observer the range and scope of skills to needed to become masterful in your career is extensive. While it’s true you will need to develop a high degree of capability across a broad range of skills if you want to easily navigate the corporate landscape, where do you start? What are the most important skills for you to begin with.
What Are Your Most Important Skills?
How would you arrange this list if you were asked to define the three most important attributes for a successful life and career? What would you put on the list and in what order of importance would you put them. The list below shows a snippet from a survey by Dr. Jenna Filipkowski & J.P. Donlon for Chief Executive. In their article “Top 10 Skills Needed for Effective Leadership” January 14 2014 posted on the Chief Executive.net website they reveal the top three attributes as voted by respondents were in order of importance.
- Adaptability
- Strategic Thinking
- Integrity
You can view the entire list and article by following this link, it is well worth a look. http://chiefexecutive.net/op-10-skills-needed-for-effective-leadership-bcl14
There’s no doubt that if you become adaptable, and strategic and if you act in keeping with your values (integrity) you might go a long way toward becoming successful, you might also become satisfied and fulfilled in your career. However there is more to it. You need to understand the psychology of performance if you are ever going to use your skills to greatest effect and produce the greatest sense of satisfaction. Just ask anyone who plays golf or tennis. Just swinging the club/racket well doesn’t guarantee you will enjoy the game.
In the next blog we are going to start too look at what underpins the difference between good and great performance.
Cheers
Jim