The Boss Cost

Every proficient staff member of a firm, agency or organization has reached or currently aspires to garner the ranks of manager or executive in their professional career. These designations have validated all the studious college time, early arrivals and late departures as an Intern and assignment inheritance as an Assistant Executive. However, is there more than meets the eye to suiting the appointment of Executive. I once read a statistic that 85% to 90% of high level executives and managers have gone through a period of “discomfort” in their life. This is a notable percentage. Everyone has heard the inspiring story of how a person reaches the pits of their life only to hit bottom and then ascend farther then they dreamed personally and professionally. Is this introspective and difficult journey a karma prerequisite for coping with success and the stresses of supervision? I feel that an Executive and Manager must not only be able to functionally deal with their own lives and professional adversity, but also that of their staff as well. How many managers have had to coach and consult their personnel on topics that range from relationships to volatile lifestyle? The answer is almost all of them. These problem solving abilities and stringent resilience to life’s obstacles make these Executives and Managers very valuable resources in the spectrum of professional Human Resources. Remember it is the journey and not the destination that counts in the Pursuit of Happyness; but when you do finally get there, definitely Be Seen at the Top.