You've been assigned to coach a CEO. How can you help them navigate stress and balance in their new position?
As a coach to a new CEO, your role is crucial in helping them find equilibrium. Here are strategies to encourage stability and manage stress:
- Establish clear priorities. Help the CEO identify what's most important and allocate time accordingly.
- Promote self-care routines. Encourage regular exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient rest to combat stress.
- Facilitate reflective practices. Introduce journaling or meditation to foster mindfulness and perspective.
Curious about other techniques that support CEOs in high-stress roles? Share your strategies.
You've been assigned to coach a CEO. How can you help them navigate stress and balance in their new position?
As a coach to a new CEO, your role is crucial in helping them find equilibrium. Here are strategies to encourage stability and manage stress:
- Establish clear priorities. Help the CEO identify what's most important and allocate time accordingly.
- Promote self-care routines. Encourage regular exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient rest to combat stress.
- Facilitate reflective practices. Introduce journaling or meditation to foster mindfulness and perspective.
Curious about other techniques that support CEOs in high-stress roles? Share your strategies.
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I guide them through a human-centered exercise designed to clarify their priorities and identify what truly matters most to them. For example, if their children are a top priority but work demands are causing them to miss important moments in their kids' lives, resulting in elevated stress levels, I help them refocus on those priorities. In this case, we would start by identifying key family events—that are non-negotiable and penciled into their calendar as immovable commitments. In addition, I encourage them to assign a “number two” & a chief of staff, to ensure alignment and accountability. This creates a structured support system, reducing stress and allowing the CEO to achieve better balance between work and personal life.
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- Run 45 min 5 days a week mornings. - Read non work related books every evening … - Swim min once a week - Play squash
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Rengin Onay Girav
Managing Partner | Employee Experience & Cultural Change Consultant Angel Investor
To better answer this question, it would be better to know what “new CEO” means. New to a company as its new CEO, promoted internally to a CEO role, first time CEO etc. These moves requires different approaches. Adaptation to role at the same time reflection of why s/he is there goes in parallel. I would help to craft a journey for: - listening, visiting, observing, asking questions with all stakeholders - communicating, reflecting about her/his vision - then I would support him for self reflection. How s/he feels about the role? Needs? Routines? Self care? Priorities? CEO’s are humans too. Sometimes either them or us forget about it. They need support along their journey. A coach for the CEO & direct reports is an effective way of working
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JeanAnn Nichols
Board Member | Executive Coach | Stanford Leadership Instructor | Technologist
(edited)Break out from the ordinary. Challenge your CEO client to take a series of ballroom dance lessons. It may be extraordinarily uncomfortable, yet rewarding, for them to be a "beginner" again (safely away from the work stage). Dance requires using the physical body as a tool, expressing emotions, and being dependent upon a partner - all skills that modern leaders should practice. Plus, it can reduce stress and BE FUN!
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40+ years as a C-Suite leader and consultant to CEOs around the world has helped me recognize the top three characteristics I believe CEOs (and leaders at every stage of their career) must embrace - Curiosity Empathy and Courage. It’s embracing always learning and asking questions, never forgetting that human beings see the world through lenses formed by all backgrounds and histories and most importantly leaders must be willing to do things they fear or don’t understand - with courage and conviction.
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It would be helpful to start by encouraging self-awareness and identifying key stressors. Help them to prioritise tasks, delegate effectively, and establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Introduce techniques like mindfulness, regular exercise, and time management tools to maintain focus and mental clarity. Encourage them to build a strong support network, including mentors or advisors, and emphasise the importance of taking breaks to prevent burnout. By creating and encouraging these habits, the CEO can manage stress, make sound decisions, and sustain long-term success.
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As a coach to a new CEO, my primary focus would be on establishing a truth-telling relationship. Often, CEOs only hear "yes," which can hinder their growth. I would start by getting to know their background, understanding their goals for the company, and exploring the economic challenges they face. It's also essential to assess the team dynamics and identify any talent gaps. By fostering open communication, I can provide honest feedback and insights that help the CEO navigate their responsibilities effectively. My aim is to be a real partner in their journey, supporting both their well-being and their leadership as they take on this significant role.
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I would plan to listen to the CEO without judgment or interruption. Intuitive listening is integral to being a great coach. CEOs have a world of people telling them what they think, my initial role as a coach is to to learn and absorb, to probe, and to encourage introspection and reflection. Once we get to some of the root causes for whats driving stress, and/or creating barriers to their success - together, we develop strategies for personal well-being while optimizing their leadership effectiveness. Regardless, my leaders own their success. I am just their champion and supporter.
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First work with the CEO as they identify the main stressors and what makes these so stressful. Go deep. Once they know the root cause, then work with them to find the motivation to make different choices. What they choose will depend on them. Hold the space as they explore rather than prescribing temporary relief for the symptoms.
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