Volume 1, Issue 1, November 2013






Meet The
Team
CEO, Know Thyself

The Suda, the 10th century encyclopedia of Greek knowledge, describes the maxim "Know Thyself" as "a warning to pay attention to the multitude." It's certainly a good interpretation for any CEO to make. Self-assessments can mean the difference between success and failure, according to Human Capital Advisor Managing Director David MacGillivray, who advises CEOs to also check their perceptions with office colleagues.

"It isn't simply a matter of knowing your own strengths, though that's important," says MacGillivray. "It's knowing your personality style and how others perceive you that's critical. Even if you think you have a certain style or traits, others may see things differently."

One's style is the sum of the traits and attributes of that individual, sort of a personality DNA. It affects their behavior in every aspect of life - work, family and personal activities - and therefore it's important to understand what your style is and how it impacts others.

For senior executives, their personality styles impact EVERY aspect of their team or organization. The culture, the dynamic of the management team's interactions, the way decisions are made, and most importantly the success of the enterprise - all revolve around the behaviors and style of its leaders.

While most interactions of CEOs are with subordinates, CEOs must be able to manage both up and down, meaning successful board relations require having a clear understanding of how directors perceive you.
"It's knowing how others perceive you that's critical. Even if you think you have a certain trait, others may see things differently."

- - David MacGillivray
HCA Managing Director
In the other direction, HCA often finds situations where a direct subordinate and a CEO are not meshing well, but the problem lies more in style differences than competency. Knowing how one's own style conflicts with another's often reveals possible solutions that benefit an organization.

A clear picture of a CEO's style can also point to possible organizational changes and realignments that will leverage the positive attributes of the senior staff in a way that complements and enhances a CEO's strengths and ameliorates his or her weaknesses. In fact, different styles, while creating challenges, can actually benefit an organization because those stylistic approaches may reveal more options for growing a business.

What is your style and how do others perceive you? Find out more on this important topic in our next HCA newsletter. There we will explore some of the self-assessment tools that will allow you to gain this important knowledge and understanding.
"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom."

- - Lao Tzu, founder of Taoism
Meet The Advisor
David MacGillivray

David, an HCA managing director, is a retired partner with Ernst & Young. He was CEO of a $60 million import/export business, and founded, built and sold a $7 million import/export business. Today he provides leadership development and coaching services to business owners and executives.



He serves on the board of directors for the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce and is active with the Greater Washington Board of Trade. He formerly served on the Northern Virginia Technology Council. David is a CPA with a degree from California State University - Los Angeles and MBA credits from the University of Southern California.

Phone: 703.819.5960