15 executive attitudes
by Miki Saxon
In this age of “personalized customer experience,” it figures that there would be a special place for job seekers who earn more than $100K and there is— ex-HotJobs.com executive Marc Cenedella founded TheLadders.com in 2003. Although the results of their 2004-2007 executive survey highlights on life, love and money are fascinating on their own, I couldn’t resist adding a few comments.
- When it comes to MBA, 57% of executives said the advanced degree is nice, but not necessary in the real world. I wonder how many have one?
- 61% of executives said it was Spanish, followed by 16% who chose Chinese.
- On stock options, 32.5% said stock options are an integral component to a pay package; 24.9% would prefer more cash; and 20.5% said options are “gravy” but not a big motivator. If they’re not a big motivator why do so many fudge to get more?
- 70% of executives said the prospect of an overseas assignment would be an exciting opportunity.
- 75% of executives surveyed said physical fitness is critical for career success at the executive level. I’d say that applies to any level (or just plain living), but I sure see a lot of hefty execs (except in California).
- On office romance, 68% of executives said they’ve harbored secret crushes on their co-workers; 17% confess to having inter-office affairs. (how many are lying? Hehe)
- On power dressing, 79.1% of executives said they prefer to wear either business casual or outright casual attire for work and another 62% said that business casual is now standard office dress code.
- On family, 62% of men in the country’s top income bracket said they would put their careers on hold to become stay-at-home dads. (really???) LOL/ROF
- Work or vacation? 79% of executives planned to take a vacation in 2007 and few of them planned to stay connected to the office. 51% said they’d check in once or twice and 34.5% said they wouldn’t check once.
- On glass ceiling, 72% of executives said men get paid more than women for the same work, and 66.3% said women do not have as many opportunities as men to become company CEOs. I wonder what planet the rest work on.
- On age discrimination, 69% of executives said they’ve fallen victim to age discrimination, yet 51% said they plan to continue working after “retirement.”
- On job loyalty, 52% of executives in the $100k+ job market said they actively search new job listings at work. Can’t really blame them considering the average CEO tenure is only 44 months.
- On religion in office, it depends on where you live: 44% of executives from “Red States” said religion does belong in the workplace, while just 24% of their “Blue State” counterparts agreed.
- 89.2% of executives said it is a company’s duty to be socially responsible, and 87.3% said they would not work for a company that had a reputation for negative social responsibility. Wow! There are either a lot of execs not working or “negative social responsibility” has a more flexible definition than I’d realized.
- On biggest holiday mistake, drinking too much alcohol is the number one mistake, according to 79% of executives; flirting with co-workers ranks second with 53% of the vote; followed by dirty dancing (42%) and inappropriate outfits (41%). I wonder if they mean their staff or themselves?
The results of each survey are statistically significant; detailed results and margins of error for each question are available upon request.
What do you think? Were they honest? Do the execs you know walk this talk?
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December 22nd, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Oh… so much to say.
I’ll take #8 for now. Categorically not true. I’m not saying that they’re lying per se but I will say that I’ll bet most of them don’t know what’s involved. My hubby – an exec in his own right – is a super dad. He takes my oldest daughter to school and picks her up every day. He goes to ballet lessons, art shows, you name it. He can’t spend 24 hours with the children without assistance. Being a full time, stay at home parent is hard work, male or female. I say this as a working mom who has tried it. Trust me. It’s quieter at the office. No one pulls your hair. Not many people scream at you. Rarely does anyone spit up on you.
I think many male execs think it’s easy. It’s not. They’d all run back to the office.
December 22nd, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Do they think it’s easy or did they just give a politically correct answer? Talks cheap, especially when it’s a survey that you don’t have to act upon. (I wonder if they told their wives:) Do you think that all their noses grew?
December 23rd, 2007 at 8:41 am
I’ll take on #5. They may “say” that fitness is important. All I know is that it is sure lonely in the hotel fitness centers that I frequent! Most of the execs I work with don’t make time for what they apparently think is a priority. You’ve got to walk the talk. Or run! Hooah!
December 23rd, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Right on, Tom! Have you noticed that it almost goes with the industry? I seem to see far more portly CEOs in old line industry than in high tech. And thinking about it, I can’t remember seeing a similarly built woman (surprise, surprise:) Can you?
December 26th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Hi,
Thanks for these. I’d like to mention a Leadership Film just out via the UK Institute of Directors which brings example to some of your points.
You can see it on http://www.business100.co.uk
Declaration of Interest: I have a cameo role in the film as the author of ‘Sex, Leadership and Rock’n’Roll – Leadership Lessons from the Academy of Rock’ – acclaimed by Tom Peters.
Happy holidays
Peter Cook