the private executive

This New Year, BusinessToday gets personal and takes a look at what goes behind the scenes in the life of an executive
BusinessToday reports

Ever wondered what lies behind the public persona of the executive? Away from the
limelight and boardroom shenanigans, out of the Savile Row suits and luxury cars are ladies and gentlemen like any other – mothers who struggle to be superwomen, juggling work and family in search of that perfect balance, fathers who take time out to teach their kids swimming or cycling, husbands who feel guilty about broken promises...

In our boardroom walks over the years we have come across nature lovers, motorcyclists, fitness enthusiasts, body builders, backpac-kers, photography enthusiasts, philanthropists, DJs, singers…the list can go on. So as we celebrate our centenary issue, coinciding with the New Year, we thought what better way to ring in 2007 than have a few of the executives share a bit of their private lives. As we peep behind the scenes, there are some who love cooking, some who go fishing or trekking to unwind and yet others who love simply relaxing with their family or pets.

The CEO as the workaholic seems passé. Most of them have time squeezed into their busy schedules for workouts, hobbies and family. Sure, the scales are still tilted towards the work side, but what is reassuring is the acknowledgement of emotional debts and some sincere efforts to bridge the personal and professional life. Most of the executives agree they miss out on the gifts like the glory of the sunrise or the laughter of a young child on a daily basis, but there are efforts to catch up at least on weekends and vacations. Spouses, both male and female, appear increasingly suppo-rtive and understanding, pitching in wherever they can, providing the kind of support mechanism unimaginable a few years ago.

The life of an executive is no cakewalk; it involves decisions, sometimes tough ones where there is no place for emotions. A few months ago, a senior executive voiced this dilemma. “How do you tell someone that you believe he is less capable than his perception of himself or that he is not going to be promoted? But you have to do such things.” Probably this explains why so many of them are into stress management activities like yoga, reiki or pranic healing.

While success and professional fulfilment are core issues, these are executives who strive not to sacrifice the simple joys of life for the sake of achievement. These are executives, all of them achievers in their own right, who have understood that true success is when one balances one’s commitment to being the best at work with a deep commitment to being a great family person and caring friend. We can’t but quote Gandhi at this point. "One cannot do right in one area of life whilst he is occupied in doing wrong in another. Life is one indivisible whole."