Washington: Being a chief executive officer (CEO) brings with it feelings of seclusion and loneliness at work and job requirements that are far-removed from the original expectations, a new survey has revealed. According to a poll of 83 CEOs in the United States, conducted by management consulting firm RHR International, 87 per cent of CEOs felt they were prepared for the demands of the position while 54 % of respondents reported that the requirements of being a CEO were different than they expected.Those numbers only increased when looking at first-time c-suite executives. According to the research, 91 per cent of first-time CEOs felt they were prepared for the position, but 72 per cent reported the actual expectations of the job being different than they had anticipated. Another challenge for many CEOs comes from the isolation that the position brings. According to the survey, 50 per cent of CEOs felt secluded in the position and of this group, 61 per cent felt that this seclusion was a hindrance to their performance. Not surprisingly, first-time CEOs were more negatively affected by this loneliness, with 70 per cent reporting that it hurt them in their ability to do their job. “This is not uncommon,” said Thomas Saporito, chairman and CEO at RHR International. “Stress, pressure and loneliness all combine to create a job unlike any other they have previously had.” The survey also challenged the popular notion regarding toxic relationships between CEOs and the board of directors. According to the research, 98 per cent of CEOs stated they had a good relationship with their boards of directors. Source: Indian Express
