From Thomas Hattersley – Executive Life Coach.
Let me introduce ‘CJ’. In the 1970s, executive life was full of people like CJ. CJ was a caricature of an old-fashioned executive in the 1970s sitcom – the Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. His trademark mottos, boomed from the loudest end of a tweed suit, always started with “I didn’t get where I am today by…” and it is fair to say that he represented the pinnacle of fixed, inflexible thinking and – something that was very much of the times – deference to rank and social status. As the 70s ground to a shuddering halt, however, CJ’s time had come; the world was changing.
There aren’t too many CJs left in business because the world of today demands change and change demands flexible thinking. Flexible thinking, in turn, demands that you take on more information and listen to new ideas.
Take working life to the next level with executive life coaching
Great leaders are always open to change, self-development and are willing to hear new ideas. All of the character traits and habits of a great leader can only be achieved once a leader has developed Emotional Intelligence (EI).
Emotional Intelligence is the ability to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions. In a leadership role it is essential to understand EI because so much of what you do as a leader is about handling emotions – both your own and those of your colleagues. There is no business decision that does not benefit from taking account of the thoughts and feelings of others, of interpersonal relationships, or how everyone’s personality affects the business environment. Improving and mastering Emotional Intelligence is a vital aspect of leading and managing a successful enterprise.
EI isn’t just a soft skill or a ‘nice to have’; studies show that it’s highest determining factor in a leader’s success. You may have the technique, the skill and the high level of intelligence that gets you the job, but without the blend of self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and relationship skills that are the foundations of EI, it’s unlikely you’ll succeed.
An executive life coach will help you to develop the EI you need to think from different perspectives and viewpoints. They can help you with establishing rapport and draw on a repertoire of problem-solving strategies and novel approaches.
The hard and rigid will break. The flexible will remain.
Tao Te Ching
All in all, executive life coaches help you develop flexible thinking and emotional intelligence because it is the single most important path to a more successful – and sustainable – future.
It’s vital to hear what your team has to say about work procedures, other team members, team dynamics, and certain work tasks and projects. This way, you will be able to work on yourself, but also improve the work environment.
I can help you with executive life coaching. I have 25 years of real business experience and a deep understanding of the mind. I can help you get unstuck and unlock your full potential. Through my personalised coaching programmes, you get clarity and focus on where you want to be. Find out more about flexible thinking and all the other ways I can help by speaking with me on the phone. It might be business, but it’s still a very personal choice, so we should check if we are suited to one another first.