People.... Yep, ya gotta have some skills

Yes, in order to be a successful executive, you do have to have some people skills. And, simply because you have made it to the executive ranks, you have likely demonstrated at least some modicum of skills.

My research tells me that the most important people skills for the new executive include: motivate, teach/mentor, and empower. The people skills are actually tied very closely to other skills within the model…. Such as vision and execution.

For example, the executive must have the necessary skill to motivate employees so that they all successfully execute the strategy of the organization. In order to do this, the executive must also be willing and able to mentor his/her people. Mentoring always includes providing employees with opportunities to grow and develop. It is only by growing and developing can people become successful. And the organization succeeds when its people succeed. Trite, but true.

On a side note, one of my survey participants pointed out that there must also be self-development by the executive. So true. Just like the need for an organization to have employees that are growing and learning, it is similarly necessary for the new executive to continue to grow and learn -- either through formal development programs or self-development. It is unfortunately the tendency of executives, once they reach a certain rank, to begin to believe that they don’t need the development. This is wrong, wrong, wrong. You can’t possibly know everything you need to know, even after years and years in a position, at a company, or in an industry.

The executive must also have the skill (and some would say fortitude) to empower his/her people. Yep, this is a tough one. How many times have you found yourself just doing a task because you believe that it will take much longer to show someone else to do it? If you take that road, you will find yourself, over time, “the doer” of the organization…… As an executive, you are the strategist, not the doer. So yep, it may take longer to teach someone the task --- the first time. But the next time, and the next, and the next….. Well, you have someone who knows how to do it without you looking over their shoulder. And you have a happier employee because they’ve grown/developed and learned something new. Win, win.

What does it come down to? Well, your organization is in existence to succeed (whatever your company‘s definition of success is). That can only happen with a concerted group effort -- effort that comes from employees that take the initiative allowed and encouraged by the executive.

One final note. Never, never become the executive or manager that people fear. One of my previous posts (12-28-09 Should Told Me #3) talked about the manager that generated fear in the organization. Yea, in the short-run you might succeed with this attitude. But, you will ultimately be that manager or executive that you see….. You know, the one that has been side-tracked to an insignificant job, is now irrelevant, or has even been fired.

Take the time to check your people skills. Have you developed someone today? Did you empower someone to try something new? You may have had some sort of people skill or ability to get promoted, but it never hurts to continue to check and hone those skills.

Cheers!