need

balance:

A recent workshop that ThinkingLife ran for the leadership team of a major charity identified the challenges that many of us experience - of long hours, regular travel away from home, feelings of tiredness, unreasonable expectations on us that we are trying to meet, concern about relationships with those closest to us. Financial pressures can also cause stress as we consider our financial needs versus committed expenditure.

At a major bank, the culture was one of fear as many of the staff were very concerned about the real threat of losing their jobs. Many felt under serious stress and believed that everything they did was being monitored in order to identify those who could be made redundant in the next round of cuts.

In addition to the overt problems, when talking personally with business people, sometimes issues come to the surface that are not discussed in the office environment. There may be a nagging doubt as to what is it all for? Some of the most successful people, outwardly, are asking why they aren’t happier given the remarkable financial and business success they have achieved. There is also the challenge - especially as we get older - in realising that some of our ambitions may not be realised. Any 40 year old still hankering to play in a boy-band should probably think again!


effective:

The question of effectiveness is important for all of us. How do we deliver the results that are required for ourselves and our organisations? Some executives have had the experience of great success in their early careers, but eventually come to a point where they feel out of their depth. The skills and ability that brought us early success will not necessarily serve so well in completely new roles; departmental management is very different to board level work. In addition, most organisations invest very little in the development of management as they are assumed to have everything necessary just because they are in the position. All of us have room to develop and improve.

The same questions can be applied to organisations. What will a company look like if it is truly fulfilling its potential? How can it develop a vision that will bring the results that it deserves? How can it respond to the pressures and opportunities of changing markets around them?