Tag Archives: human touch
The Existential Necessity of Midlife Change
The Existential Necessity of Midlife Change
So you think 50 is getting up there? Ready for the decline? Not any more. Average life expectancy in the US now hovers near 80, and for many of us, these become their most productive years. At 50 you’ve discovered your strengths, are comfortable in your skin, have learned where to partner and where to soar alone. Now to figure out what to do with this expanded picture of fulfilling later years…check out this fantastic article from HBR’s Jan/Feb ‘08 issue. (Currently the entire article is accessible, but later on this link may lead to a summary.)
Life Affects Performance, Even for CEOs
My father would say, “I didn’t need a study to tell me that.” CEOs are human like the rest of us. Their performance suffers
- about 21% for the two years following the death of a child
- about 25% for the three years following the purchase of a mansion or an estate
- a less predictable but definite decline in the afterglow of Superstar recognition from major awards or publications
- from higher risk-taking and wild swingsin profitably for those who are narcissistic
As the WSJ’s(subscription may be required) Mark Maremont notes in his blog, the devastation of losing a child does not usually result in a rededication to doing our best at work. These studies remind us of our humanity, and help us to put our arms around how much impact it really has. My father was right; we did know that. What we didn’t know was how much it mattered.
The thought from branes: Organizations ARE the people that are in them. Refusing to isolate the human from the task not only makes the workplace a more respectful place to be, it makes it a more successful place to be.