How do you define an executive?

Is it the CEO? The president? Vice-presidents probably qualify. Where’s the cut-off? Does it include a ‘middle-manager?’ What are the credentials? Do you need an MBA to be an executive?

We believe that from front-line supervisors to CEO’s, certain skills are required for the smooth functioning of the day-to-day life of the business. Pretty basic on the face of it: good, solid, communication skills; team facilitation and presentation skills; project and time management skills. Also, it’s necessary to know how to interview in order to hire based on behavioral standards. Getting clear, solid agreements is important. Coaching is critical to getting optimal performance from your team. In the inevitable pinches, conflict management skills may be necessary. Meeting the press and communicating with the public may play a role. Strategic planning makes it possible to achieve long-term goals.

All of a sudden, it seems like a long list.

It’s not hard to learn about these skills—what they are, how they work, why they’re important, when to apply them. But it can take weeks, months, or even years to practice, hone, and integrate them. The best executives know it takes an entire career to master them.

If you are responsible for supervising, coaching, motivating, hiring, firing, and meeting performance objectives; we believe that qualifies you as an executive. You’re a leader—of a few, or of many—and being a competent leader means focusing as hard on the people as you focus on solving the problems. After that, it’s a matter of degree and layers of complexity.

To see samples of our work click on a choice below.

• Ameritech / Can We Talk?
• Ameritech / Going Full Circle: Coaching
• American Airlines / Customer Service for Airport GM's