Executive Retirement Planning

Is Executive Retirement Planning Different?

The unique features of Executive Retirement Planning are illustrated by the following quote, by the former CEO of a leading UK public company. 

‘The job was in my head 24/7.  It was hard to focus on anything else.  That takes its toll…I was 55, it was time for somebody else to takeover.  To be honest I didn't have a strategy as to what I’d do next.’ 

The article prompted me to write the following story about another CEO:

The Alpha Executive

Bill was a successful, confident, and opinionated manager.  He was smarter than most, and he knew it!  His admirers saw him as a man of action, who was comfortable taking responsibility and very sure of his own ideas. 

When I met Bill he was in his early fifties and had finally achieved his ambition to be the CEO.  We didn't have a formal coaching relationship, but I was interested to know how he was managing the transition from Operations Manager to Chief Executive. 

In his new role, people management was a key responsibility.  He had risen to the top through his ability to get results managing projects and processes.  I was concerned, on his behalf, that some of his strengths could become weaknesses in his new position. 

Bill was a poor listener, and because he was so sure of himself, he was often impatient and critical of other’s ideas. 

He was slow to admit mistakes and under pressure to get results, he could be intimidating and domineering in his conduct of meetings. 

With his focus on results, he was unaware of the impact of his style on people.  He was unemotional in his decision making.  He was firm and consistent and believed that logical analysis, focusing on the task, was the best way to make decisions. 

A former colleague told me of a downsizing project that Bill had managed before he got promoted.  He had to reduce the workforce from 200 to 125.  His boss was happy with the outcome.  However some of his colleagues, and many of the survivors, resented the way he did it.  They said he showed no emotion, and it seemed he had little regard for their feelings and personal values. 

“Bill’s a good manager, and probably a good guy, but I would hate to work for him.  I find him challenging and often frustrating,” a former colleague confided. 

Managers like Bill are natural leaders and the majority of senior executives will display many of his characteristics.

Executive Retirement

Executives like Bill, who have made work their top priority in life, will have some unique difficulties in the transition to retirement. 

They can find it hard to surrender their control over other people and may be reluctant to engage in succession planning-after all, nobody can do the job as well as they can! 

They may have had little time to develop relationships outside of work, and view hobbies such as golf as a waste of time. 

At work coercive power, based on fear and punishment, and position power, were important elements of Bill’s influence upon others. 

In retirement, personal traits that would enable him to relate to others, such as empathy, interpersonal relationships, and social responsibility, would be crucial. 

The question of executive retirement wasn’t on Bill’s horizon, though he did hope to make enough money to have the option to retire early at 60

Executive Retirement Coaching

Retirement planning for senior executives is different.

If I were coaching Bill, I would urge him to begin executive retirement planning right away.  I believe that his personality and leadership style required that he begin planning at least five years before the transition to retirement. 

And it’s not just about money. In my experience most executives will already have considered their retirement financial planning needs. 

He might also ponder the words of the CEO, quoted at the beginning of this article: 

‘When you are doing a big job, it’s difficult not to get wrapped up in yourself, so it’s nice now to have more time for other people, my friends, my family. I like the balance.