Stresses management teams are under

It’s kill or be eaten at the top of the corporate world. When sales are down, budgets tight, and wages up, something/someone has to give. I’ve advised hundreds of senior executives on exits from businesses and in the end they generally do well out of it. 3-6 months notice pay, pension contributions, compensation, car, shares etc - at a senior Exec level it can add up to 6-12 months of after tax pay (£30k is tax free) meaning they’ll take the redundancy and can sit on their backside for a few months finding the next role. It’s just a surprise to them initially.

Being in a management position is a lonely place, requiring resilience that gets challenged when times get tough. For 3 years on the trot, times have been tough, with a fourth year ahead of us that will be even more challenging. There is less money circulating, which puts pressure on the need to keep a business solvent, which rubs abrasively up against the cost of living issues being faced by employees that lead to salary increase requests. Engaging the services of HR and legal professionals to help ease the pain and process associated with redundancies is an absolute must if this is one of your realities. I'd also advise enlisting yourself in a peer-to-peer mentoring or coaching group to get that sounding board that's needed for decision-making, and so difficult to find in any other way.

Executives are looking for support, this can be through coaching or through an external sounding board. We are seeing more and more business owners talking through their challenges and working together to achieve a suitable solution. This might be closing up, pivoting or managing their workforce more efficiently. Coaching on a business wide basis is far more productive than sending one or two managers from the organisation on a 'training' course. It has to be meaningful and completely relevant to the individual business and specifically for that senior manager. A trusted partnership working for a common goal is the answer, please dont just throw a training budget in there. More is needed to fully support the manager - personally, organisationally, mentally and at times even physically. We are all seriously under pressure to grow.

It is not uncommon for individuals in leadership positions to experience stress and mental health concerns during times of economic uncertainty and financial strain. As an executive, you’re not only managing your own stresses and hardships, but you also have the responsibility of helping your team cope with any pressures that come their way by providing a peaceful environment and allowing them to do their best job. That’s why it’s extremely important to encourage managers to take part in any employee assistance programmes that you have running in your organisation or even provide them with more tailored mental health support.

Management teams are under pressure, that's nothing new! The pressures are exacerbated and never-ending, but the thing I'm seeing most in my Executive Coaching clients? Self-doubt. Imposter Syndrome. Confidence through the floor. Burnout. Anxiety. No self-belief.
And the worst bit? They can't talk to anyone about it because they don't have a safe sounding board. It's lonely at the top.
Teams and organisations look up to their management for direction, advice, guidance, reassurance, a plan... the list goes on. But who is there for the management team members? Nobody. This is why Executive Coaching is a game-changer for leaders and small business owners. Its why Executives are seeking coaching more than ever. It gives them the space to work stuff out, builds capability and it helps them make a plan. To the benefit of everyone.

Times are tough, there are no two ways about it. Both employers and employees are feeling the strain of the cost of living crisis and in turn the impact this is having on well-being and stress levels. As a Life Coach I work with many management professionals and the demand for my services both personally and in workplaces has hugely risen over the past three months as people search for creative solutions to cope with ever-increasing pressures. The proactive nature of coaching can really provide powerful benefits in tough times. It gives coping skills and creates a safe and supportive environment where managers can offload but also seek solutions to the current challenges they are facing.
Coaching helps develop problem-solving skills and increases motivation and resilience. All very good skills to have in this current climate

Senior leaders are overwhelmed, frustrated, unhappy. The last few years have been exhausting. The current economic climate is overshadowing the light they were hoping was at the end of the tunnel.

Thankfully organisations are realising that they need to support their leaders before they burnout, or leave. They recognise that coaching can help leaders to be more effective. It gives leaders the confidence to delegate, supporting their employees’ growth. They gain insights about how to manage their boundaries and their wellbeing. Productivity increases and stress reduces.

For those who wait and hope things will get better on their own, the cost could be devastating.