Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-22
Average Executive
Ism | Poor-Boy-Who-
Got-fo-Top Kind
sy The Assoeio,.d Pres,

CHICAGO. July 22.-What's
the top level executive like and
how did he get that way?
To answer that question. and
others. a couple of industrial
psychologists employed by George
Fry & Associates. management
consultants. subjected SO top
Chicago executives to an ex-
hausting series of tests and
questions.
The men who participated in
the researcher condition their
names would not be made public
included presidents and vice
presidents of nationally known
industrial corporations and
financial institutions.
Pretty Smart Fellow.
What was discovered?
First of all, the composite
executive turned out to be a
pretty smart fellow. Robert Wald
and Roy Doty. who wrote the
report, concluded. "it would
appear that. no matter the
nature of the executives back
ground. outstanding intellectual
ability is requisite for success"
The survey found the executive
"tended to be somewhat on the
serious side" While he has a
wide varity of social activities,
he's not in the 'back-slapping"
group. Yet he's a. warm and
spontaneous fellow who creates
q good first impression and
maintains friendships easily.
Many of the executives studied
were extremely positive and de-
cisive individuals" They were
neither excessively irritable nor
tranquil. They were just average
In emotional stability and self
confidence, worring no more or
less than the general population.
There is some evidence that
the executives were motivated
to success by a need for &C
complishment and fear Of fall
ure." the report says.
Average Interest In Arts.
Main interest of the executives
was in dealing with people. Their
interest in artistic and creative |
work was average. They didn't
have much interest in working
with machines and tools.
What was their background?
The idea of the poor, unedu-
Gated boy working his way to
the top takes something Of a
beating from the survey. The
executives weren't poor boys and
they weren't uneducated.
Mainly, they came from large
population centers. The educa-
tional backgrounds of their par
ents were far above average.
More than half the fathers had
engaged in professional or man
agerial occupations. Their fam
lilies had incomes which were
either average or above average.
The executives were raised in
homes with good personal rela-
tions. Parents of only one OF
the SO had been divorced.
Ninety-three per cent said they
felt a great" sense Of belong
ing" in their childhood homes.
Well Educated Group.
They were well educated.
Twenty-Five of the 33 gradu-
ated from college-and that was
at a time when colleges gradu-
ated far fewer students than
now. OF the %, IA received their
degrees in liberal arts. four in
commerce and four in engineer
Ing.
Average grade of the college
graduates was Pin other
words they were good but not
exceptional students. They were
best in economics and English.
Which college subject was most
helpful in subsequent vocational
pursuits? Just plain old-fash-
Toned English"
On the basis of the executives
college work, including extra
curricular activities, the survey
concludes: "All the evidence con-
corning education seems to indi-
cate that the group from which
potential executives arise can be
spotted during the formative