I have found as a former executive and now executive coach the following steps help to keep executives at the top of their game:

Re-discovering authenticity through the following steps:

• Re-visit why you do what you do
• Are you still passionate – if so, about what, if not, what needs to be done
• What are your intrinsic and extrinsic motivations
• Who really knows you and you have given permission to speak into your life
• Are you taking care of your self holistically, body, soul and spirit – what does this look like for you
• Where to you give back and expect nothing in return
• What are your own personal values – does everything you are currently doing line up with this
• How and why do you invest in others
• What are you doing to develop future leaders
• What is your leadership legacy

I have personally found there are many executives still investing in personal and organizational leadership.  I believe leaders who have a vision for the future see leadership development as a necessity, not an option.  I have even seen many come to the realization, I need to invest in the leaders I have left now more that ever.  There is a lot of reorganization and restructuring going on.  This is a perfect time to invest in yourself and your team of leaders.

We are offering the first annual Authentic Leadership Summit 2010, Oct. 14 – 15.  We have strategically focused on “authenticity” and keeping the price low so executives from many different organizations can benefit.  Check it out at:  www.authenticleadershipsummit.com.  Below are some excellent comments to this question from three of our conference speakers:

“Executives are at their best when they are able to fully claim their role as leaders through leveraging their strengths, identifying self-defeating behaviors, and truly knowing themselves.”

“Learning resilience is the most important skill for executives in this economy.  When leaders are resilient they are able to carry their vision forward even in the hardest of times and inspire others to follow.”

Michelle Prosser, President – Energy Focus

“The educational needs of executives has changed a great deal since the economy imploded. There is a greater need to be with your peers to both network and learn. The extraordinary circumstances we face as executives today carry a heavy leadership burden. We need to be connected with other executives to help us understand that we are not alone in these tough times. The best source of education right now is to hear what my peers are doing to address the common challenges we face.”

David R. Phillips, CAE, RCE  Chief Executive Officer

“Because of the costs associated with travel, room and board, I believe that it makes more imminent the need for “digital” or online learning. I learned recently from a local company of a solution that would readily allow for virtual classrooms. People from all over the country perhaps even the world could share a classroom experience from their home locations.”

Bill Cooper, UVA Director of Diversity