How to Have an Executive Mindset
Imagine for a moment the most inspiring leader you've ever known. What made them stand out? Often, it's their mindset that sets them apart. An executive mindset shapes how you see challenges, make decisions, and lead others. It's the mental framework that turns obstacles into opportunities and plans into action.
Thinking like an executive doesn't happen overnight, but you can start now, regardless of where you are in your career. The truth is, it's never too early to develop the mindset you aspire to, and it's never too late to refine your mindset, even if you're already an executive. By mastering the art of mindset you will set yourself apart as a leader.
What is an Executive Mindset?
An executive mindset is more than high-level decision-making; it's about adopting a leadership-focused way of thinking that emphasizes strategic vision, confidently navigates challenges, and fosters innovation. Executives with this mindset effectively balance organizational needs with those of their team.
Your mindset is everything—imagine it to be the glasses through which you see the world. Having worn glasses since I was 16, I know how crucial it is to have clear vision—without it, everything becomes a blur.
Similarly, your mindset can either sharpen or distort your perception. Whether you’re seeing the world through rose-colored glasses or a smudged lens, your mindset shapes how you perceive everything around you.
The best part? You have the power to choose and adjust that mindset. You do have the power to change your perception of events. And the mastery of adjusting your perspective is what truly makes a great executive.
Below are 10 elements that I consistently see in my executive clients. Implementing these traits can help you develop and refine an executive mindset, making a significant impact on your career progression.
The 10 Elements of an Executive Mindset
To truly excel as an executive, it’s essential to develop a mindset that embraces these ten crucial aspects:
1.Strategic Thinking:
An executive mindset really is about a shift in focus. You want to shift from the day-to-day operations to the long term goals of your company. You will be able to delegate much of the day-to-day elements. The long term future strategic stuff is what needs your active engagement. Chances are, that’s the stuff that lights you up a little bit better anyway. Strategic thinking allows you to anticipate challenges and seize opportunities.
2.Decisiveness:
Executives are expected to make timely and well-informed decisions. Often that has to happen with incomplete information. This is why it’s important for you to cultivate confidence in your judgment and your ability to make decisions. This decisiveness will enable you to make the calculated risks necessary to stand above the competition.
3. Accountability:
Prioritize accountability for yourself and your team by setting clear expectations, following through on commitments, and leading by example.
4. Emotional Intelligence:
Cultivating emotional intelligence means you will understand and manage your own emotions and consider the impact on others. This could include active listening, empathy and navigating complex interpersonal dynamics. Emotional intelligence comes natural to some and not to others. If it doesn’t come naturally to you it doesn’t mean you can’t get good at it, it simply means that this is a skillset you should spend some time on improving.
5. Delegation:
Leveraging delegation increases exponentially the impact you can have. The importance of empowering others and delegating tasks effectively cannot be overstated. Not only does it increase your impact but it builds trust in your team and invites them to step up and improve their own skill sets. Recognize when and how to delegate effectively. Empowering your team is key to scaling success.
6. Continuous Learning:
The best leaders are always learning. Stay curious and committed to growing your knowledge and skills. You can learn through networking, on the job experience, learning through your failures, and more. Continuous learning will impact your own personal growth, the growth of your team and provide an example for your team on how they too can improve.
7. Visionary Perspective:
Keep your company's vision at the forefront of your decision making process. The opportunity you have to inspire your team by constantly talking about the vision helps your team learn, follow your thought process and encourages team growth.
8. Effective Communication:
Take into account how your team communicates. Some people may be more visual learners while others will do better by learning as they go. Incorporate as many communication styles as you can in order to have an effective arsenal of communication.
9. Resilience:
The executive path is not for the faint of heart. You may have heard the phrase, to succeed faster you should double your failure rate. In order to step into an executive mindset you need to be willing to fail. To know how to fail with success. This means you are able to look clinically at a situation and learn from your own or your team's mistakes.
10. Self Reflection
As you advance in your leadership journey, self-reflection becomes an indispensable tool. It allows you to assess your abilities, realign your goals, and strengthen your leadership skills. It takes courage to do a self assessment.
What Can Stand in the Way of an Executive Mindset
Micromanaging Behaviors
Executives who try to control every detail may find it hard to focus on big picture goals. To develop an executive mindset, you need to trust your team to handle the day-to-day tasks. Letting go of the small stuff frees you to think about long-term strategies.
Fear of Making Mistakes
Being afraid to make mistakes can stop you from taking necessary risks. Executives need to be okay with the possibility of failure. Learning from mistakes helps you make better decisions in the future.
Unwillingness to Adapt
Change is a constant in business. You need to be open to new ideas and different ways of doing things. Holding on to old methods can keep you from seeing new opportunities and may slow down progress.
Short-Term Thinking
Focusing only on immediate results can prevent long-term success. Executives need to keep their eyes on the future and think about how today's decisions will impact tomorrow. Balancing short-term needs with long-term goals is key.
How to Develop an Executive Mindset
Imagine Success in the Future
Picture yourself at the peak of your career. Maybe it's 10 years ahead, and you’re in your dream job, doing great. Imagine what future-you needs present-you to do today to reach that success. By putting yourself in this mindset, you begin to understand what actions you need to take now.
Set clear goals
When you know what your goals are for the future it will help you to set clear goals for the present. A clear goal is one that has a defined end point and specific steps to take that are in your control. Instead of declaring something like, be the head of my own division, break a large goal into smaller steps. If you’re looking to be the head of a division you may need to expand your network, brush up your skill set, review your job experience, etc.
Actions Today for Tomorrow's Success
Think about steps you can take today to support your future goals. Focus on making decisions that push you closer to your long-term objectives. Discussing these with your team helps everyone stay on track and develop similar thinking patterns.
Embracing an executive mindset can be a game-changer, driving your career and personal growth to new heights. Some other areas you can develop are…
Develop a growth mindset
Every failure is an opportunity for growth. Develop the ability to review your perceived failures and find what you can learn from each event. What you would do differently the next time and what you would do the same.
Build self-awareness
Self-reflection is the process of deliberating on your own experiences and behaviors. By examining your actions and the motivations behind them, you gain valuable insights into your personal preferences, goals, and values.
Grow your network
The best time to network is BEFORE you need it! For many of us the thought of calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time is uncomfortable, and the thought of asking them for something is worse. It’s so much easier to contact someone when you are just wanting to connect, without a request. Practice building a network of authentic connections, without an agenda, and this will soon become second nature.
Listen to your team
A good leader knows that listening to what their team is saying can help you to understand their motivations and where they are most beneficial to you.
Seek consistent feedback
Participating in 360 sessions is one way to invite feedback but it can also be beneficial for you to have a mentor or close professional friend that you seek feedback from in a consistent and constructive way.
Invest in personal development
Your career growth is at the end of your comfort zone. Live in that growth mindset and continuously challenge yourself by reading a new book, taking a course, or even working with a career-life coach, like me.
Build Your Executive Mindset
Remember it’s never too early or too late to work on your executive mindset. As a career-life coach for executives this is exactly what I help my clients achieve. Sometimes having an outside perspective from someone who has been in your shoes and navigated the ins and outs of corporate life can be beneficial to your growth. Connect with me on LinkedIn to learn more about working with a career-life coach.
