If you’re a manager in the workplace, you likely already know it’s a job that isn’t for the faint of heart.
Between juggling deadlines, conducting meetings, and making sure everyone’s staying productive, it’s easy to feel like you have to be everywhere all at once. But what if thriving as a leader—rather than just surviving—comes down to building executive functioning skills, both in yourself and your team?
Think of executive functions as the backbone of productivity, focus, and resilience in the workplace. It doesn’t matter if you’re leading a team of seasoned pros or a fresh batch of interns, sharpening these skills can turn chaos into cohesion.
Get ready to discover the top tips for managers ready to boost their team’s brainpower and business results.
Table of Contents | Developing Executive Functioning Skills in the Workplace: Practical Tips for Managers
- Understand What Executive Functioning Skills Really Are
- Be the Role Model
- Prioritize Clear Communication
- Foster a Culture of Accountability With Compassion
- Leverage Technology, But Don’t Overwhelm
- Make Goal-Setting a Team Sport
- Provide Sales Training With an Executive Functions Twist
- Encourage Lifelong Learning
- Invest in Executive Coaching
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1. Understand What Executive Functioning Skills Really Are
Take a minute to pause before you aim to cultivate executive functioning skills in others. Ask yourself, “What do executive functioning skills really mean?”
In the workplace, executive functions are the mental skills that help us plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks. It’s the fuel that gets stuff done, helps teams stay organized, and enables individuals to adapt to change. If you’re serious about taking your coaching leadership style to the next level, start embracing these skills as core competencies and not just nice-to-haves.
2. Be the Role Model
You want to be the leader who walks the talk to inspire greatness. If you want your team to be punctual, organized, and goal-oriented, you need to set the standard and be the shining example.
It’s actually much easier than you think—use calendars, set reminders, and practice mindful prioritization in your own workflow. When your team sees you using these executive functioning skills, they’ll be more likely to adopt them, too. And as a nice bonus, you’ll feel more in control. And who doesn’t love that?
3. Prioritize Clear Communication
Miscommunication can cause even the greatest of empires to collapse. They sneak in when you least expect it and wreak havoc. Strong executive functioning is built on clarity, so remember to make things easy to understand for your team. You want to ensure they never have a bunch of question marks running through their minds.
Use checklists, share concise meeting agendas, and clarify expectations. Most importantly, keep that figurative door open for feedback. If you ever undergo an executive coaching program, it’ll often start with improving how you communicate. Consider this the foundation for every other tip on this list.
4. Foster a Culture of Accountability With Compassion
Don’t be mistaken. Accountability isn’t about finger-pointing; it’s about holding individuals answerable for their commitments by giving your team the tools and feedback they need to succeed.
Encourage regular check-ins and constructive feedback. If someone happens to make a mistake, help them develop strategies to manage their work better next time. As a team leader, you need to be there to provide support when it’s needed the most. Business coaching principles highlight that compassionate accountability leads to better results—no shaming required here.
5. Leverage Technology, But Don’t Overwhelm
Aren’t we simply spoiled for choice when it comes to productivity apps and digital tools? But let’s be real: too much tech can make you feel like you’re drawing at times.
Instead, choose one or two platforms for project management and scheduling, and stick with them. Train your team to use these tools consistently so that executive functions like planning and task management become second nature.
6. Champion Mindfulness and Well-being
Nobody can pour from an empty cup. As a leader, you should know that more than anyone else.
Encourage your team to take regular breaks, get outside, and unplug after hours. Mindfulness is a proven way to strengthen attention and impulse control—helping us pause, think, and choose our responses instead of reacting on autopilot. Remember, even machines give up at times when you tire them out too much.
When you have an executive coach, you’ll learn all about mindfulness practices to help your team recharge and refocus.
7. Make Goal-Setting a Team Sport
Goal-setting should be a shared vision. Set SMART goals together, break them into actionable steps, and track progress visibly. And of course, don’t forget to celebrate milestones as a team. This approach boosts motivation and teaches everyone how to break complex projects into manageable chunks. That’s a hallmark of strong executive functioning. Baby steps may be small but they’re still a step forward.
SMART goals are a popular framework for setting clear, achievable objectives—often used in business, education, and personal development. The acronym SMART stands for:
- Specific: The goal is clear and well-defined.
- Measurable: You can track progress and know when you’ve achieved it.
- Achievable: The goal is realistic and attainable.
- Relevant: It matters to you and aligns with broader objectives.
- Time-bound: There’s a deadline for completion.
For example: “Increase team sales by 10% in the next quarter.”
8. Provide Sales Training With an Executive Functions Twist
Is your team in sales? Why not combine traditional sales training with exercises that build executive functions at the same time? Role-playing, time management drills, and scenario planning help reps stay focused, adapt on the fly, and close more deals. You’ll see how practice really makes perfect.
The best salespeople aren’t just persuasive. They’re organized, adaptable, and resilient, too. So keep those executive functioning skills in check as much as possible.
9. Encourage Lifelong Learning
Learning is a lifelong process. It definitely shouldn’t stop at executive coaching certification or onboarding. Create a culture where professional development is a never-ending cycle.
Share articles, encourage attendance at webinars, or maybe even start a book club focused on productivity and leadership. The best teams are always evolving—and the growth of their executive functioning skills should never be stunted.
10. Invest in Executive Coaching
Bringing out the best in your team isn’t a journey you have to take on all by yourself. Sometimes, the best way to sharpen your team’s executive functioning skills is to bring in outside expertise. Executive coaching offers tailored strategies for improving focus, organization, and leadership. Whether you’re looking to upskill or support new team leads, a certified executive coach can provide the accountability and insight your team needs to grow into their best version yet.
Choose Executive Coaching at AEED
This is the neon sign you’ve been waiting for to transform your workplace into a powerhouse of productivity and positivity.
All takes is the right moves to turn average teams into all-stars.
With Action Edge Executive Development—-Canada’s Top Executive Development & Training Firm—you get instant access to programs that put your team a step ahead of the rest.
Get started with Executive Leadership Development Coaching today.
Looking for more expert insights? Check out our other resources below:
- Navigating Change: How Leadership Coaching Prepares Executives for Uncertainty in the Business World
- The Role of an Executive Coach in Sales Training: Bridging the Gap Between Strategy and Execution
- OKR Methodology: Transforming Corporate Strategy into Actionable Results
- The Impact of Executive Functioning Skills Coaching on Personal and Professional Growth
- Unlocking Potential: What Is Executive Coaching and How It Transforms Leaders
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