All good things do come to an end . . . including all executive leadership roles. This post takes readers behind the curtain to understand the complexities and dynamics and benefits of engineering a great ending. Michael Le Roy Associates and MyNextSeason work in partnership to plan and support boards and presidents who want to finish well.

Executive advising is the “art of accompaniment” provided by someone who listens well, asks probing questions, and draws on a significant experience in a complex leadership role. Leadership is profoundly challenging work, but it can also be rewarding work if you decide you aren’t going to do it alone. The post below describes my work with three leaders to understand the practical aspects and benefits of having an executive advisor accompany you on your leadership journey.

Mature leaders seek out advisors when they step into a leadership role, and boards should view a leader’s desire to have one or more trusted advisors as an indicator of humility and strength. Many of the most experienced and accomplished leaders I know have one or two advisors they continue to retain across multiple roles in different organizations. Overly insecure or arrogant leaders simply don’t seek out an advisor.

With the long, intense days of work that begin early and end late, travel across time zones over a short number of days, evening events and activities, nonstop mobile communication, and all the burdens and worries associated with leading a large organization it surprises me that any leader can sleep at all. I certainly struggled with this as well. Sleep deprivation erodes the executive function of the brain, and it also erodes an executive’s ability to function.