Category: Career Management

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Groupthink is Dangerous

This past Friday, I delivered a presentation at the January 2022 meeting of ITB Partners. The theme of the topic was about building one’s independent consulting practice by leveraging your time. One of the participants was curious about how many members were following this strategy. He was interested in learning how the broader membership viewed this issue. Are we in a bubble? Are we victims of Groupthink?  Not only did I think that was an excellent question, but I also promised to survey our wider membership to determine if their activities align with my recommendations.  This exchange reminded me of similar situations I had encountered during my corporate career.

Wikipedia;  “Groupthink – is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. Cohesiveness, or the desire for cohesiveness, in a group may produce a tendency among its members to agree at all costs.[1] This causes the group to minimize conflict and reach a consensus decision without critical evaluation.[2][3]”

Psychologist Irving Janis calls Groupthink “a deterioration of mental efficiency. The first time I heard about the concept of Groupthink, I was an undergraduate. I wrote a short paper on the subject. At that time, I did not fully understand Groupthink as a concept. I had not witnessed it personally. It took practical experience and responsibility as a team member/leader to complete my education on this phenomenon.

Back in the day, if we thought we were limiting the full range of consideration for a question, we would ask, “are we just talking to ourselves? Are we in a bubble?”  We knew that something wasn’t working the way we expected, so we must be missing critical information. In other words, we need to get input from the market and our customers.

The most striking form of Groupthink I experienced was at the beginning of my tenure with Long John Silver‘s. During my corporate orientation, I attended a presentation from a marketing research firm. Their contract was to perform a strategic analysis of the brand. It was an incredible experience. Whereas the consensus opinion of leadership had been that our primary competition was Red Lobster, the research showed that the brand was part of a different industry segment. The consumer identified the brand as a quick-service restaurant concept, but they did not think we acted like one. The service wasn’t fast, the food was too expensive, and there were no Drive Throughs, among other issues. This revelation was a shock to leadership. The recognition that they had invested their resources trying to compete in a segment they could not win was daunting. Fortunately, those findings led to a very successful repositioning of the brand.

Effects of Groupthink

    • Group dynamics overrides effective decision-making
    • Inhibits learning
    • It may be a subliminal way to protect one’s reputation or institutional dogma.

How to recognize Groupthink

    • The leader has a most persuasive personality, domineering even.
    • Dissent is discouraged
    • The workgroup demonstrates a high degree of cohesion,
    • Peer pressure to conform,
    • Complacency, need to get along,
    • Belief in a group’s infallibility
    • Own the moral high ground
    • Tribalism

These actions lead to a lack of counterpoints and optimal decision-making. Fundamentally, it is a symptom of poorly managed human group dynamics and leadership.

How to prevent Groupthink

    • Recognize Groupthink as a pathology to be avoided
    • Develop a process to counter-act:  explore options, evaluate alternatives, encourage ideas without judgment or negative consequences,
    • Test assumptions,
    • Place a high value on objectivity.
    • Assign a devil’s advocate – seek out the counterfactual

When we formed ITB Partners, one of our goals was to develop a learning organization that was inquisitive, collaborative, and supportive of our members. In other words, a high-performance team. Google conducted research to determine how to create high-performance teams. Their findings were surprising.   “We were dead wrong. Who is on a team matters less than how the team members interact, structure their work, and view their contributions.”    Groupthink is an inhibitor to high-performance teams. To avoid Groupthink and other risks that would conflict with our goal, we instituted an annual strategic review that included a survey of the members. The Annual Review helps us stay on course to achieve a healthy culture. It has been a helpful exercise that has prevented us from taking detours unsupported by the majority of the members.

Groupthink is something to be avoided by all goal-oriented teams. Regrettably, it is a phenomenon that is all too common in the broader culture. Share on XWe have seen it exercised in Academia, Major Corporations, the Media, and even in government, leading to well-document disasters. No institution is immune to its intrusion. If you want to foster growth and learning, recognize the risk of Groupthink and build systems to ensure that it never takes hold in your team.

For more information on Groupthink, check out these articles.

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_82.

htmhttps://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/glossary/groupthink

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner – ITB Partners

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

 

 

 

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I logged into LinkedIn but landed on Facebook!

I am a long-time LinkedIn user.  According to LinkedIn, I was one of the earliest adopters. It is a powerful tool that I use extensively in my executive search business.   I use it exclusively to promote my brand and to find candidates for my searches.  It is an excellent product that is easy to use and has enhanced my productivity. It has become more valuable since the Microsoft acquisition, until recently at least.  However, it’s not perfect.

Over the years, several distasteful trends have appeared on my LinkedIn feed.  My favorite is the one I call the “Russian Bride Scam.”   That was crude, comical, and so transparent.  I almost miss that trend. Even now, I am approached by women allegedly looking for a romantic partner. At my age, those solicitations are more annoying than flattering.  They are easy to spot as their profiles are sketchy and their photos are inappropriate.  There is the “agent for an international corporation” scam.  I am not clear how this scam works, but I am confident that the objective is to separate me from my money.  I have had recommendations from contacts to become a mystery shopper for a legitimate company.  Message to those scammers, I had extensive experience with mystery shopping programs during my corporate career.  I’ve got your number!  And, of course, the “Nigerian Scam” is still out there in one form or another.  It is so sad that people still become entangled in these scams at a rate sufficient to keep the grifters in business. More recently, insanely aggressive appointment-setting pitches have bombarded my inbox.  These pitches may not be a scam, but they are undesirable.  During the 2020 Election Cycle, I found more political content on my feed. Political posts are particularly annoying to me.

Many solicitations are the result of someone hacking into the account of a legitimate user.  Fortunately, most are obvious and ignored. However, dealing with unwanted solicitations consumes time, which one cannot recover. I do not appreciate distractions on my feed that cost additional time and energy better used for my goals.

Receiving messages better suited to Facebook, Instagram, or some other social media platform is frustrating. Share on X Now, don’t misunderstand. I appreciate compelling human interest stories. People that have beaten cancer give me great hope. I am a sucker for stories about your pet. I get a warm, all-over feeling inside when I see a video of veterans returning from overseas combat assignments. I am a military brat, after all. And, I enjoy seeing your accomplishments, beating the odds, ascending to new heights in your career.  Notwithstanding suspicions to the contrary, I am a human being.  Nevertheless, I believe one should post human interest stories on some other social media platform.

I am not the only user who has become increasingly annoyed by people using LinkedIn as if it were Facebook.  I am not alone in my belief, as I have talked to many people, including LinkedIn gurus, who share my angst.  Some say that the Covid-19 lock-down is partially to blame. I believe that to be true.  In an article published in Inc. Magazine, Chris Dessi noted that LinkedIn is evolving, so I must adapt.  That may be correct—I plan to adjust to this evolution by navigating around the not-so-professional aspects of LinkedIn. I have begun blocking people whose content is not relevant to me, and I have changed my Account Preferences to eliminate political content.  Hopefully, LinkedIn will create new filters to make eliminating unwanted content easier.

I believe that LinkedIn is an important application that helps me achieve my career goals.  I use LinkedIn to build my brand recognition. That is why I am a subscriber.  I find it well suited to making new connections.  It has improved my effectiveness in finding candidates for my search assignments.  I don’t believe you should use LinkedIn to convey human interest stories.  If you continue to use LinkedIn like Facebook, don’t be surprised if people begin blocking your posts.  Your brand will suffer.

I recommend that LinkedIn creates more rules and filters so we can achieve peak productivity.  That is the evolution I can embrace.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner – ITB Partners

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

 

 

 

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Create a Job Search Management System!

While gainfully employed, we are comfortable using systems, processes, and procedures to accomplish our work. We use CRM systems to help us build and maintain our customer base. We have applications to help us with project management and to improve the quality of our teamwork. We use calendars to plan our work by day, week, month, and even year. We have systems to communicate with our customers and prospects, known as marketing. We are comfortable working in a structured environment for a paycheck. However, I find it interesting that many job seekers don’t have a system to manage their job search efforts. As you can imagine, they spend more time in a job search than their better-organized peers.

I am a big fan of Scott Adams. Surprisingly, many people don’t know that Scott Adams is the creator of the Dilbert comic strip. Those that know of Scott’s connection to Dilbert may not know that he earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from Hartwick College and an MBA from UC Berkeley. Scott is an author, an entrepreneur, and an investor. He has written non-fiction books on satire, persuasion, political commentary, and business. Before becoming a cartoonist, he worked for major telecommunications and banking corporations. Scott believes in systems. He has said that goals without supporting systems are useless. I agree. Achievers always use a system to deliver the results they seek. I like his message so much that I recommend his books to my coaching clients and those looking for advice on a job search. I recommend that you become familiar with his work too.

I assume that you know the exact parameters of the job you seek. You know what you want to do, where you want to do it, and your compensation requirements. You have an excellent resume, bio, cover letter, and business card. Your elevator pitch is exciting and provocative. You understand how to make a helpful connection using your conversational skills. You continue to receive referrals to people who can move you closer to meeting with a hiring manager.  Now, how do you manage all of that activity and maintain momentum? Let’s consider the fundamentals of an effective job search management system.

Your Job Search System Tools

      • CRM Program – Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn, etc
      • Email Marketing List – Your Network
      • To-Do List/Follow up assignments
      • Expense tracking/mileage

Your most relevant job-search tool is your email management program. Share on X Every personal meeting or phone call will result in follow-up actions that must be captured and tracked. There are many options to consider, but I am most familiar with Outlook and Gmail. Gmail or Outlook provides you with the CRM components you will need for your job search. Outlook offers all the power I need from a CRM system. In my business, I use the address book to categorize my contacts as clients, or search assignments, active prospects, and the candidate’s job function, among others. As it is a database, I can query my address book and print reports as needed. Job seekers may want to use a similar method. I make good use of the “Notes” block on each, and there are many additional data categories that you can use.

Secondly, to maintain contact with your network, I recommend a subscription to an Email Marketing Service (EMS). Services like MailChimp and Constant Contact provide you with a professional image while minimizing the risk of losing your email privileges. Most of these services are free until you have 1000 email addresses in their system. Most job seekers will not reach that limit. Use your EMS to check in with your network, at least every other week. Advise them of your progress. Remind them of your ideal situation and any additional information that will help them help you. Similarly, LinkedIn is a powerful application to use in tandem with your EMS.

Your calendar application is an obvious requirement to ensure you are always where you need to be. It helps record reminders and follow-up items. I synchronize my laptop to my iPhone and iPad, so my calendar is always with me, one way or another. I use the Calendly app to make it easier to schedule appointments. Calendly ensures that I do not waste time trying to schedule a meeting. It has proven to be an excellent productivity tool. Your calendar function has the additional capability to improve your productivity. Add links to your appointment to allow you to access files or pull up the LinkedIn profile for your meeting counterpart. I also use MileIQ, which automatically tracks and reports my automobile mileage.

While you are in job search, proceed as if you are gainfully employed, full time. Much of your effort will be communication with your network to expand your reach and eventually talk with hiring managers. Organize and structure your activities as you would if you were employed. Take full advantage of your email management program to keep track of your activities and plan follow-up actions. Use LinkedIn heavily, to enhance these efforts. Subscribe to an Email Marketing Service to keep your network abreast of your progress and remind them how they can be helpful. Track your progress and adjust accordingly. Plan your work and work your plan. Create a system to support your work and evaluate your progress.  Enjoy becoming employed again.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner – ITB Partners

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

 

 

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A Useful Conversation

ITB Partners Members Meeting

Last week I moderated two separate networking group meetings.  That is not particularly interesting or noteworthy, except that they shared the same topic and presenter.  The subject was “Freelancing and the Fractional Executive as a Career Option.”  One group was primarily job seekers, whereas the other was composed of independent consultants and small business owners.  I found it interesting that a major topic of conversation in both meetings was how to become a more effective networker.  It is a fundamental issue worth further exploration.   Relationships develop by expanding your network.  It is how people find jobs and new customers. The ability to initiate and maintain a conversation is an essential skill in this regard. Even so, many demonstrate insecurity about their ability to have a meaningful discussion. If one cannot master this skill, your networking efforts will be frustrating. Share on X

If you spend your time watching national news broadcasts by the major networks or on cable news channels, you could easily conclude that the art of conversation is dead. Regrettably, much of what we see are professional propagandists talking over one another. It’s not much in the way of conversation.  Those programs are challenging, even painful to watch, unless you are into train wrecks.  They should never be confused with a thoughtful conversation or an exchange of ideas. Instead, we should seek out healthy conversations.  It’s how we humans learn, transact business, and build relationships.  It is fundamental to our survival and our ability to thrive.  Even so, it is mysterious and intimidating for many.  It seems like a lost art from our distant past.  I have good news, however.  Effective conversation is a relatively simple skill that anyone can master.

I spend most of my day in conversation, at work, and off, as you might imagine. Much of that time is helping professionals improve their networking skills. It is the one area that generates the most interest. Job seekers and business people trying to expand the reach of their brand know that they need help in this area.  My contribution is devoted to asking questions and listening carefully.

So what makes for a compelling conversation, especially with people you don’t know and have recently met?  An effective conversation is an exchange of information where both parties benefit.  On a deeper level, it is a dialogue that develops and strengthens a relationship.  The best way to establish a relationship is to show interest in the other person in the conversation.  Ask relevant questions and listen carefully to their response.  By showing interest in another, you begin to build a bond that can lead to a relationship.  Wait patiently for an invitation to discuss your interests. Waiting to talk is difficult for many people as they are anxious to present their background.  Networking Pros understand that they must help others first.  All good conversations develop by a respectful exchange.  Create goodwill with the other by asking thoughtful questions.  Practice active listening techniques.  Understand their motivation for the meeting so you can establish common ground and offer your help.

Key Factors for Effective Conversations

    • Demonstrate a genuine interest in the other person
    • Be respectful, don’t interrupt or overtalk
    • Use your active listening skills, verbal and non-verbal, to understand nuances.
    • Make the other comfortable; mirror, maintain eye contact,
    • Ask an open-ended question to understand and keep the conversation going
    • Ensure that the time, place, and situation is optimal
    • Use non-verbal communication to convey interest and understanding

I am sure that these points are familiar to you.  You have heard this before.  So why is it that you are still apprehensive about your ability to hold a conversation?  I suspect it is because you have avoided practicing these items.

If you want to become more effective as a networker, work on your conversation skills.  A good conversationalist is considered exciting and sincere.  You will experience greater success in building relationships that further your career and social life. Fortunately, like most things in life, the skills required to initiate and maintain an interesting conversation are easy to master.

For further reading in this connection, check out these articles.

https://www.fastcompany.com/3027801/5-ways-to-have-great-conversations

https://www.wikihow.com/Have-a-Great-Conversation

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner – ITB Partners

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

 

 

 

 

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New Century Dynamics Executive Search Completes CMO/Head of Marketing Search

New Century Dynamics Executive Search places a CMO/Head of Marketing for a rapidly growing, northeastern-based,  direct-to-consumer, subscription meal delivery company.

Jim Weber, President of New Century Dynamics Executive Search, and Managing Partner of ITB Partners reports that he has found a CMO/Head of Marketing for his client.

Working with the senior leadership team, this Executive will drive the development and plan the execution of a comprehensive growth strategy to achieve the company’s objectives,  charting their path to the future. The Head of Marketing will evaluate and enhance the organization’s branding, digital & traditional marketing, partnerships, event planning, public relations, community outreach programs, and customer experience group.

About New Century Dynamics Executive Search

New Century Dynamics Executive Search is focused on providing Executive Search and Management Consulting to the Service Industry.

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

We specialize in Food Service Distribution, Restaurant and Hospitality, and Franchising.

We are specialists in executing the Confidential Search,  placing C-Level Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Business Development, professionals.
Many of our clients are Private Equity Groups and their Portfolio Companies.
https://newcenturydynamics.com
JimWeber@newcenturydynamics.com
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How I Became a Marketing Researcher (and Loved It)

If you asked a group of Kindergarteners what they wanted to be when they grow up, you’ll get a lot of answers like Doctor or Firefighter or Teacher or Athlete, but I would wager that no little boy or girl would say, “I want to be a marketing researcher”.  Even if you asked a group of High School students, I don’t think a single one would state that their ambition was to become a marketing research professional.  So, how do people wind up as researchers?  Well, for most, it’s a combination of fate and opportunity, and the path is rarely straight.

When I was a little boy, obsessed with dinosaurs, I wanted to be an Archeologist.  By the time I got to High School, growing up with the space program and watching men land on the moon, I thought I wanted to be an Aerospace Engineer.  Taking Physics in High School made me realize that I didn’t really want to be an Aerospace Engineer.  So, instead of going to an Engineering School, I enrolled at Oneonta (NY) State and selected Statistics as my major. So, how did I wind up as a marketing research professional?   Basically, I can attribute the beginnings to two Professors at Oneonta (NY) State College.

Dr. Esmat Nouri, the Head of the Statistics Department at Oneonta and my academic advisor was the first major influence on my chosen profession.  Dr. Nouri was a brilliant statistician and excellent teacher (though because of his thick Egyptian accent he had difficulty pronouncing the word “statistics”). He was laid-back, easy to talk to, and he really cared about his students. At the beginning of my Junior year, it was about time that I started to think about what kind of career I could expect when I graduated with a BS in Statistics, and I set up a meeting with Dr. Nouri. During the meeting, Dr. Nouri told me that most Statistics graduates entered the field of actuarial sciences. He explained in detail the type of work that Actuaries did, the series of exams that they needed to pass, the good earnings potential, and the stability of the career path.

Let me state emphatically that I have a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women who work in the actuarial profession, and I understand that it is an excellent, important, and lucrative career. But, at the time, my 20-year-old brain could not fathom a more boring thing to do for the rest of my professional life. I left the meeting depressed and anxious. Did I need to change majors? Would it delay my graduation?  Is my life ruined? (Yes, I could be very dramatic back then.)

Enter, the second person to influence my career at this early stage.  I had picked up an Intro to Marketing course as an elective in my Junior year taught by George H. Webster. Mr. Webster was energetic, enthusiastic, and smart.  His teaching style made Marketing fun and interesting. During one lecture, soon after my depressing meeting with Dr. Nouri, the topic of marketing research was discussed. Wow! A light bulb lit up. There was the answer. Combining the rigor and logic of statistics with the excitement and creativity of marketing was the answer to my problem. I now had a goal. Share on X

Well, I graduated with my degree in Statistics and took enough business courses to earn a minor in Business Economics.

I took a year to figure things out. Then, I returned to academia and pursued an MBA in Marketing at SUNY Albany.  Upon graduation from Albany, while most of my classmates were getting jobs in New York City, I decided to move to Atlanta. Although Atlanta was then a growing city, it was not a hotbed for marketing research and my degrees from Albany and Oneonta did not impress any potential employers in the South.

Through a stroke in fate, my father saw a job posting in the Wall Street Journal for Lecturer positions at my alma mater, Oneonta State. He encouraged me to apply, even though I had no interest in teaching nor felt that I had the experience or academic qualifications for the job. But, to please my father, I went ahead and applied, not believing that I had a shot.

To my surprise, I got the job and joined the faculty at Oneonta State. I enjoyed three years teaching Accounting, Intro to Business, and Marketing and, finally, in Year 3, I got to teach a course in Marketing Research. But in the back of my mind, I still had that goal of becoming a professional marketing researcher.

While teaching at Oneonta, I got a flyer in the mail from the University of Georgia promoting a new academic program leading to a Masters in Marketing Research (MMR). As a member of the business faculty, I was supposed to talk to my students about the program and encourage applications. Not only did I share the information with my students, but I decided to apply for the program myself, was accepted and enrolled.

After completing my MMR, I finally had the marketing research credentials to combine with my Statistics degree and Marketing MBA to reach my goal and I landed my first professional marketing research job in Atlanta.

So, my path wasn’t direct, but I eventually found my way. My career has had its up and downs and twists and turns, but I have worked in the marketing research profession now for more than 35 years!

I’ve got Dr. Nouri to thank for being forthright and honest with me about what careers to expect with an undergraduate degree in statistics, highlighting what I didn’t want to do. Unfortunately, Dr. Nouri passed away in 2003 and I never got the chance to thank him for his influence. I am appreciative of George H. Webster for sparking my interest in Marketing with his enthusiasm and expertise for the subject, helping me to discover what I did want to do.  I don’t know what has happened to Mr. Webster, but if he’s out there and reading this… Thanks!

How about you? What was your professional path? Was it full of twists and turns? Who were the people who helped put you on the right road? What’s your story?  I’d love to hear about it.

Carl Fusco

Carl Fusco is an accomplished Marketing Research Consultant who helps businesses more effectively solve problems by applying research techniques and data-based insights.  For more information, email him at carl_fusco@yahoo.com or call him at 770-364-7160 .

 

 

Thank you for visiting our Blog!

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.

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Living and Working with Mexicans – Online Course

The Chief Culture Academy

The Chief Culture Officer Academy is pleased to announce the launching of its online course Living and Working with Mexicans. The Mexican culture is rich in customs, traditions, and intriguing behavioral patterns; and this one-of-its-kind short course offers you the opportunity to dive into the very roots of the Mexican way of life.The curriculum and practical activities are carefully designed for:

      • Expats (retirees, executives, diplomats)
      • Foreign students
      • Foreign investors and import/export professionals
      • Travelers
      • Mexican culture enthusiasts
      • The program content includes the following topics:
      • Culture and human behavior fundamentals
      • The roots of the Mexican cultural identity
      • Values and attitudes in the Mexican society
      • Mexicans behavior in the workplace and business
      • Other key features:

Completely online. You can access the modules from anywhere: the living room, your office, the cafe; and using the device that best suits your needs, your smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.

Your schedules, your pace. The estimated time to complete all the modules is 3 hours, which you can organize at your convenience as it is available 24/7.

Natural voice and closed captions. Our video lessons are English spoken and created with a native speaker’s natural voice. They also include closed captions to enhance your learning experience.

Certificate of completion. Get your digital training certificate when all the lessons are completed.

Course instructor: Francisco J. Santana

Francisco Santana

Francisco Santana is a cross-cultural expert who conducts training sessions for business professionals who are involved in intercultural duties. He specializes in cross-cultural communication, negotiation, and business etiquette; virtual team management, as well as in culture shock.

 

 

For more information and enroll in this course please click on this link:

https://academy.thecco.com.mx/courses/mexicans

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Announcing a New Search Assignment Under Contract – New Century Dynamics Executive Search

Announcing a New Search!

New Century Dynamics Lands a Region Manager Search for a Midwestern Based Casual Dining Brand.

The client is a growing casual dining restaurant group.  They seek someone who has had foundation experience with big brands and has made a successful transition to entrepreneurial situations.

The Region Manager is responsible for all restaurant operations, optimal profit, and delivering guest experience and satisfaction levels consistent with the goals set for the brand. The Regional Manager is responsible for the execution of policies, procedures, and financial strategies that align with the strategic direction of the company. The Region Manager must be a team player, working cross-functionally with all departments to ensure the proper implementation of all systems and strategic alignment throughout the chain. A comprehensive annual operating plan to support successful growth and alignment with the strategic plan is essential.

IDEAL EXPERIENCE

The successful candidate has had approximately three to five years of high volume single-unit or multi-unit management experience in the restaurant industry.  A bachelor’s degree in business or Hotel and Restaurant Management or equivalent experience is a requirement; as is a   proficient knowledge of restaurant P&Ls, budgets, inventory systems, financial statements, and the ability to read and interpret business reports.  Experience achieving and maintaining high levels of customer service in a hospitality environment is required.  The ideal candidate will also have a strong working knowledge of restaurant systems, equipment, and design.

 

IDEAL PERSONAL PROFILE

We are seeking a dynamic, results-oriented individual who can plan for and implement the changes envisioned for the company’s brands.  The person we hire will be committed to helping the company structure around standards, systems, processes, and procedures to ensure brand integrity.  A positive, persistent attitude toward problem solving and conflict management is a must.

 

The successful candidate is well-organized, with an eye for detail; a hands-on hard-working contributor who leads by example; a team player who can help this organization achieve “best in class” status while maintaining high levels of morale and customer service.  Solid written and oral communications, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are required, as well as the highest degree of ethical behavior.

The ideal candidate will possess a passion for selecting talent, building teams, and developing future managers.

COMPENSATION

Base salary range $70K to $85K

    • Quarterly Bonuses
    • Equity Incentive Profit-Sharing Plan
    • PTO
    • Employer-Sponsored Medical Insurance
    • 401K with Employer Match
    • Dental/Vision/Life Insurance
    • Dining Discount
    • Phone Allowance
    • Mileage Reimbursement
    • Flex Yoga Family Discount
    • Relocation Assistance

 

 

This document is presented to you in confidence.  All communication, whether written, oral or electronic should be addressed to:

 

James E. Weber, President
NEW CENTURY DYNAMICS EXECUTIVE SEARCH
Tel.  770-649-7051
Cell  770-354-2817
E-mail; jimweber@newcenturydynamics.com

 

Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners

Prior to forming New Century Dynamics Executive Search in 1999, Jim Weber spent 22 years with Fortune 500 companies in the Food Retailing Industry where he developed a broad-based portfolio of “hands-on” line and staff experience in growth and turnaround situations. A proven executive with exceptional leadership skills, Jim has a strong financial background and heavy operations experience in specialty retail stores, quick-service restaurants, manufacturing, and distribution.

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Write an Impressive Cover Letter

Someone has been giving my prospective candidates lousy advice.  For years, I have received resumes with absurd cover letters.  Many are bizarre.  The worst begins with “In this challenging economic environment.”  Are you kidding me?  If they were trying to impress me, they failed.  They nullified their most crucial sentence with something trite and boring.   I do not know who advocates for this style, but they have done significant damage.

Here is a typical example.

Dear Mr. Weber:  

As a marketer and executive leader, I’m known for creating awareness that drives action and achieving transformational growth for startup, emerging, and mature brands. Most recently, I launched and built a challenger activist brand into a nationwide community movement that drove historic electoral wins. My experience, however, largely spans for-profit industries-art, luxury, and tech where I developed deep expertise in digital communications and brand-driven marketing strategy.

The first time I saw this letter, I did not read past the first sentence.  I doubt that any recipient did.  Why should we?  The writer took forever to get to the point, a big waste of time.   Possibly a good second paragraph, this is the wrong way to begin a cover letter.

This letter went on for seven more paragraphs, totaling 432 words.  It was not until the last paragraph that the author stated what she wanted.   Even then, the description of her ideal role was unclear.  Her most specific point was that she wanted to work for “brands that support social causes or are committed to investing in and evolving a social impact function.”  Since most corporate strategies include a ‘social cause,’ this point was unnecessary.   More wasted time

While researching this topic, I did not find anyone advocating for this style of a cover letter.   The advice on this subject is consistent with my thinking.  So, what is the origin of this style?  I wish I knew!  It makes me wonder if I should send this post to every candidate who violates the rules for writing an effective cover letter.

What is a Cover Letter?  Why is it necessary?  These are useful questions.  A cover letter is an introduction.  It tells the reader who you are, why you are contacting them, and enclosed additional information, like a bio or a resume.   It is handy when sending information unsolicited.  Whenever you send your credentials to a prospective employer or client, use a cover letter.  Today that is usually via email.

The purpose of a cover letter is to entice the reader to give your enclosure a thorough review.  You should provide enough information to captivate their interest, but not so much that they decide against your interests.  From a marketing perspective, a cover letter is a ‘teaser.’  Your letter must spark the reader’s curiosity, compelling them to review your credentials.  The letter or email should answer three questions.

    1. Who are you?
    2. Why are you contacting me? What do you want?
    3. Why should I give you serious consideration?

You must address the first two points in your first sentence.  The remainder of your cover letter provides a summary of your qualifications.  Three bullet points are sufficient.  Let the attachments explain your skills, experience, and interests. Finally, thank the reader for their time and ask for an interview.  Make it effortless for the reader to absorb your message.

Three Types of Cover Letters

    1. Responding to a specific situation (job posting) including a resume
    2. A cold introduction seeking a specific situation (may or may not be a job opening)
    3. A networking introduction (a bio or a detailed intro letter)

A Caveat.  An introductory letter without attachments can be powerful.  In this event, the writer makes a compelling case for her candidacy on one full page.  When closing, the writer offers an invitation to request more information if interested.  This tactic is appropriate for cold introductions, but the letter must be flawless.  It is most effective when sent via USPS.  It is not suitable for most situations.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber, Managing Partner – ITB Partners

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

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Your Bio – Why it’s Important!

I cannot begin to tell you how many of my apps want me to update my profile, especially the “about me” blocks.  This includes everything from LinkedIn and other social media accounts to email marketing services and meeting schedulers.  I am sure that you have had the same experience.  They believe a bio is important to attract followers and build one’s reputation.  And they are right!  Fortunately, as I am a big believer in the value of a good bio, these requests are simple ‘cut and paste’ activities.

I recommend that you have a complete and current bio.  It is a useful networking tool. As you know, networking is the key to building your career.  Whether you are in job search, trying to gain more customers, or building your brand, networking is how it’s done.  I recommend having a bio because it is more likely to be read than a resume.  Whereas resumes are scanned, at best, bios are read because they tell a story, especially if your story is interesting.  Throughout history and across cultures, storytelling has been a treasured, universal concept.  People like stories. We all like to read stories. A bio is perfectly suited to tell your story. It’s hard to argue with the concept. That is why I am an enthusiastic supporter.  I often speak to the importance of telling your story, whether networking or in job search.

You still need a resume; however, a bio is more likely to generate interest with a prospective employer. A bio is less threatening from a networking perspective.  Whereas handing someone your resume screams “I am looking for a job,” a bio is more subtle.  It says, “Hey, I want you to know about me in the event you learn of an opportunity that is appropriate for me.”  A bio is a better vehicle to help you build a relationship with the reader.

How to write an interesting bio:

    1. Begin with your overview – your positioning statement
    2. Write in the third person
    3. Make it personal – more than just about your career
    4. Talk about your accomplishments, training, and key learnings
    5. Keep it interesting – use active voice, mix up sentence structure, use short paragraphs
    6. Write it like a short story – what is the theme of your career?
    7. Two pages or less
    8. Include a photo.

Early in my career, I learned that the secret to an effective presentation is to tell them what you are going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them.  In other words, begin with an overview of the message, provide the message in detail, and then summarize the message.  So, begin your bio with an overview of your career.  My preference is a three-sentence personal positioning statement.  (Review last week’s blog post). The first is about what you do, who you do it for, and how do you do it.  Secondly, speak to the towering strength you bring to the table.  Finally, speak to your value system, leadership style, and the way you conduct your work.  This provides the reader with an inventory of attributes that formed the foundation for your career.

The body of a bio chronicles your work history starting at the beginning of your career then moving forward.  Some people have bios that begin before their formal career as their experiences while maturing created a foundation for their career.  This is always useful information if it is relevant.

The body of a bio provides an opportunity to talk about significant accomplishments, skills learned, and reasons for job changes.  It can also explain breaks in employment for personal or developmental reasons.  Be sure that every paragraph supports the first paragraph, your positioning statement.  The body of your bio provides depth and explains how you acquired your skills and experience.

The final paragraph can be entirely personal.  Lead with your education and awards, certifications, publications, etc.  Talk a little about your family, where you live, and any hobbies or interests that may be compelling.  If you are involved in community service or charitable work, include those interests as well.  Remember, use a conversational tone with an active voice. Alternate between short and compound sentences. Use short paragraphs.  Minimize the use of buzzwords and business jargon.  Above all, make it an interesting read.

The point of any career document is to be invited for an interview.   You want the reader to become interested enough to learn more about you.  A bio is an excellent tool to begin a discussion.  Create several versions, each emphasizing a different primary skill stack.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

 

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

I hope you enjoyed our point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox.  Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so; please leave a comment.