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Leadership Track Record Can Help Differentiate Laid-Off Managers and Executives From Competition
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Laid-off managers and executives who face stiff competition for few job openings must take a more targeted, focused approach to interviewing if they hope to stay on their career paths and impress potential employers. One of the best ways to differentiate yourself from the competition is by giving specific examples of your leadership track record to potential employers, according to Suzanne Bates, author of the newly published book, "Motivate Like a CEO: Communicate Your Strategic Vision and Inspire People to Act!" (McGraw-Hill 2009).
"Throughout the job-seeking process - including communicating with network contacts, applying for online positions, sending out cover letters and resumes, and especially during job interviews - include instances of how your leadership skills and abilities helped you achieve results for past employers. Give detailed examples that relate directly to the job and organization to which you are applying," said Bates, president and CEO of Bates Communications http://www.bates-communications.com
"Employers today are not just looking for experience, but for leaders with proven track records for achieving results quickly - particularly through motivating their staffs under challenging circumstances, such as after layoffs and undergoing other cutbacks. Management candidates who can demonstrate that they have realized goals and objectives by motivating and inspiring people will be in a much better position than others," said Bates.
The components of your Leadership Track Record to convey to potential employers, according to Bates, are:
- Your leadership skills portfolio. "These are the skills of a leader of people. They include decisiveness, team-building, strategic thinking, exceptional communication abilities, problem-solving, motivating and developing people and empowering them to act," said Bates.
- Examples of results achieved for other employers. "Relate these examples as directly as possible to the current job opportunity. Use quantifiable figures, such as dollars or percentages, to clearly show how you helped increase sales, decrease turnover, cut costs, improve profits, and other accomplishments," said Bates.
- Your leadership purpose. "Communicate what your leadership purpose was for past employers. Your leadership purpose comprises your personal vision and mission for each employer - a goal or objective about which you were passionate. Your leadership purpose may have been different from employer to employer, so be prepared to cite why they were different," said Bates.
- Your ability to motivate others and increase employee engagement. "Among the qualities that differentiate leaders is the ability to communicate, motivate, and inspire their teams. Although many business people rise through the ranks due to their business and technical skills, they often plateau because they lack the ability to communicate, influence, and motivate others. Point to instances where you helped employees become excited about what they were doing. These are the stories that a future employer will remember when considering you against other candidates," said Bates.
- Your record for empowering people - "True leaders give people the latitude and flexibility to use their judgment and apply their talents. Leaders empower people by letting them know that their decision-making skills and abilities are respected, and they are entrusted to act on their own. Give examples to potential employers how empowering people helped you realize results," said Bates.
- Your record for recognizing the accomplishments of others. "Praise, recognition, and reward are essential elements to motivating employees and increasing their engagement in their jobs. Articulate the ways that you have recognized the achievements and contributions of others, and shared their success with their colleagues," said Bates.
About 'Motivate Like a CEO'
Suzanne Bates is author of "Motivate Like a CEO: Communicate Your Strategic Vision and Inspire People to Act!", just published by McGraw Hill in January 2009, which recently became #1 best-seller in books on communication skills on amazon.com. She is also the author of the business best-seller "Speak Like a CEO, Secrets to Commanding Attention and Getting Results" (McGraw Hill 2005). She is President and CEO of Bates Communications Inc. http://www.bates-communications.com and blogs at http://www.thepowerspeakerblog.com
