Without a doubt, 2020 will be unforgettable.  To say, “it was the year that everything changed,” maybe an overstatement, but not by much.  However, it is safe to say the pace of change accelerated in 2020.  You know exactly what I am talking about.  There is no need to recap experiences that are still fresh in your mind.

One unfortunate effect of the Covid-19 Pandemic mitigation efforts has been an increase in unemployment, especially for Senior Executives.  My clients and the people I work with.  Even as the economy recovers, many industry segments struggle to find and maintain a defensible niche.  This has led to terminations as employers adjust to remain profitable.

ITB Partners has not been spared by the events of 2020.  The lock-down resulted in a loss of business for many of our consultants.   Demand for Executive Search has plummeted, although my coaching business is up.  One consulting client has kept me particularly busy.  More recently, the demand for our services has increased, often in unexpected ways.  Our consultants recognize the need, to maintain contact with their clients and prospects, to stay connected.  Overall, the membership at ITB Partners has remained stable.  People still need our services.

My work is focused on helping senior executives, mostly Baby-boomers.  They need help in finding their next job or a new career path.  They seek counsel to understand their options in the 21st Century, the New Normal.  For these people, the next situation will be entrepreneurial; with emerging companies and established mid-caps.  Likely, their next employer will be a portfolio company owned by a Private Equity Group.  Some have a better grasp on the situation than others, but most have difficulty understanding the digital economy and working with Millennials.  They want to be relevant and contribute. They have the skills to be successful in this environment but do not know it.  The irony is their greatest strength is lacking most in the culture, interpersonal skills.  They need professional help to navigate this environment.

A Career Coach can quickly assess and validate their clients.   The process of validating a candidate is designed to determine if their experiences and skills are supportive of an employer’s company life cycle position, their product line or services, and their company culture. It is a skill I learned in Industry, then honed over 22 years conducting searches.  Leadership is the fundamental skill set employers seek in a Senior Executive.  It is the starting point of the evaluation process.

Begin with the Fundamentals

• • Straightforward concise communications
  • Strategic problem-solving skills, ability to prioritize at a high-level.
  • Leadership skills: vision, alignment, motivation, and accountability
  • Appreciation for culture, values, norms, tradition
  • Situation awareness: matching strategy with life cycle position
  • Integrity: models ethical behavior – their strength of character

My good friend and ITB Partners co-founder, Stan Stout uses a five-point model he calls The Five Cs.

Stan’s 5-C Model

• • Competency
  • Character
  • Culture
  • Changeability (adaptability)
  • Cultivator
  • Communications.

Using these criteria, candidates are probed for the experience that demonstrates competency as a leader in their field.

Understand Your Relevant Skills

Secondly, career coaches identify the candidate’s unique selling proposition, (USP).  The USP are the skills and attributes that make one ‘stand out’ among the competition.  They identify the theme of the person’s career story and determine how to present it most effectively. It provides focus and direction for one’s search.  It is the candidate’s job search strategy.

Effective Communication is Required

Finally, career professionals help their clients communicate their relevance through the various media in play, resume, biography, intro letters, LinkedIn profile, etc. Their clients have good overall communication skills but find it difficult to present themselves. I was surprised to learn that this is common even among the best sales and marketing professionals.  They can sell another’s product but not themselves.  A career professional will help them craft and communicate an effective message.

The result of this approach is the clients find the best situation in the least amount of time.

It is said that a man who represents himself as his own attorney in a court of law has a fool for a client.  I must agree!  There are times when we need the expertise of others.  We cannot possess all the skills necessary to handle every situation.  A different perspective can be valuable.  Hiring a professional career coach can be a good investment, especially in this uncertain environment.

Thank you for visiting our blog.

Jim Weber – Managing Partner,  ITB Partners

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