LIFE PLANNING FOR EXECUTIVES

A recent survey has shown that nearly a quarter of senior executives i n the sample were dissatisfied with their work and lifestyle. Personal long-range planning, or life planning, addresses this issue by provid ing a framework for individuals to clarify their priorities in life an d develop a plan for realizing them. The key concepts are: values, mis sion/purpose, life goals, objectives and strategy. The case study of ' John Smith' illustrates the process. The key is the development of inn er direction so that values and life goals reflect the individual's pe rsonality rather than external pressures. Research on long-term social trends indicates that a growing segment of the British population, cu rrently around one third, are inner directed. Although these people ar e prepared to work hard, they will do it because they enjoy their work , not out of organizational commitment. This group will increasingly d emand that their employers construct terms and conditions of working t hat reflect their personal life plans.