With the current state of the global economy of uppermost importance in the minds of most business people, CEOs and other business executives are really feeling the stress. Regardless of the size of a business, the person at the top carries the bulk of the burden of keeping workers, customers and share holders satisfied while trying to keep himself on an even keel. This is where the services of an experienced psychologist/coach comes into play. Regular visits to a counseling centre or coaching via phone or webcam can help the harried boss maintain a healthy balance between work and personal concerns.
All too often, the strain of being a business executive causes these folks to lose focus and enthusiasm. Counseling will often be two pronged in that counselors will probe into the current management style and help CEOs understand where they are strong, and where they might need to shift gears a bit to be more productive with less stress. Many a harried CEO may be a business expert, but with some coaching can also become better with people, which in turn can reduce the strain of running the show. For example, learning to delegate is tough for many. An overly stressed CEO needs a great Executive Assistant to keep the daily schedule reasonable and workable, and if he’s really doing a good job, there should be other trusted employees who can divide up some important responsibilities and free up time for him to spend time outside the office with family and friends.
While any executive worth his salt realizes the buck stops with him, he doesn’t have to work in isolation. It’s healthy to spend some time socializing with employees. This is not to suggest that he emulate Michael Scott of “The Office”, but sharing a meal or attending the occasional birthday party or similar celebration can go a long way toward breaking down the barrier between workers and upper management. The ability to induce laughter among workers and to laugh at himself when the going gets tough allows a CEO not only to become an organic part of his own business, but also to minimize some of its major stressors.
Certainly the daily strain of making difficult decisions, the anguish of downsizing (in a difficult economy) and the constant balancing act between efficiency and profit that an executive must confront take its toll, but few things can add more to the pressure cooker of life than an unhappy workforce. Many therapists are well versed in counseling business executives. It is not uncommon to advise mingling with personnel in an informal setting and, most importantly, conferring with them, not only on work decisions, but also on the comfort of their work environment. Cluttered offices with harsh lighting, cramped cubicles and sterile surroundings can lower both morale and productivity which in turn can reduce profits. As anybody knows, lower profits increase stress for a CEO. Sometimes something as small as the addition of a few houseplants and a comfortable rest area can make the difference between a tense workplace and one that puts the entire work staff more at ease.
Legendary Dallas Cowboy coach once said, “A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so you can be who you have always known you could be.” The top psychologists/coaches fill the same role for business CEOs.
Most executives are adept at hiring experts to run the departments, but many forget the necessity of attending to their own mental and emotional health, don’t make enough time for physical exercise, fresh air, and family, and even sometimes get so overwhelmed that they allow small, but important tasks at the work site be overlooked or over-calendared. Regularly conferring with a psychologist who is familiar with the unique problems faced by executives is sometimes one of the most productive things a boss can do for both himself and his company.
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Harried business executives feeling the stress of running their companies should look into coaching/counseling sessions offered by a Calgary psychologist with more than 22 years of experience in business executive counseling. She can help you put your priorities in order, meet your business and personal goals, and get both business and personal lives back on track.