I read in an article written by a leading executive headhunter how the reality of most executives and senior executives’ career, with few exceptions, is that it growths and will reach a ceiling around age 40-45: seats in the executive management committee are few and far between. Therefore, for executives, it is important to realize and understand this fact, and plan accordingly for a second career.
This issue is becoming particularly acute nowadays because organizations will not any more keep deserving executives in their payroll for past services rendered, if they don’t have an operational role. I meet too many executives that for a reason or another have been made redundant and are struggling with their identity and career prospects between 45 and 55.
It is really amazing how this issue is not part of the collective consciousness. The reason is probably because the corporate world first and foremost presents as role models those exceptions that continuously rise throughout their careers.
There are plenty of interesting and exciting second careers open to executives that have reached the ceiling of their corporate career: founding or taking over a smaller business, investor, interim management roles, independent professional, leading a para-public organization, being elected into political roles etc.
But too few are planning ahead for this second career and life, as they are too committed to trying to be successful in their corporate life. Statistics don’t lie – most will have to change. This is why I am now recommending executives I meet that ponder this issue to figure out something of interest, and start building this new second career in a proactive way, which is always much better than doing it in a defensive manner.
