From Ben Horowitz' "the hard thing about hard things is that they don't have a formula" to Jason Fried's coauthored startup book, 'Rework.' (If you missed it, be sure to catch my recent mention of Jason Fried's not-to-be-missed December 2012 blog post about the role mistakes play in our lives.)
Read MoreI first learned about the new "ambivert" designation over lunch this week from a fellow apparent ambivert. Janet and I concurred that we've never felt right about identifying exclusively as introverts or extroverts, although both concepts have been attached to both of us, individually, depending on the environment.
Read MoreIf you've ever blundered hard, and had a hard time forgiving yourself, Jason's article is a good reminder that mistakes aren't intentional. It's also an invitation to consider that mistakes might have an important place in the human experience.
Read MoreFor those determined to ace executive-level interviews and beyond, this is how one of the world's most respected executive search firms differentiates itself online—by giving important insights into what it means to be an executive candidate.
Read MoreThree days ago, I caught Liz Wright's less than subtle Fortune.com article: "Five Stupid Rules That Drive Great Employees Away." Rule #2 on Liz' list: insulting performance review processes. Follow Liz on Forbes or LinkedIn, if you don't already. Her ideas are worth consideration.
Read MoreIf you've never faced a search committee interview, but might do so in the next few years, take Jane's wisdom in Acing a Search Committee Interview to heart.
Read MoreIf eighty percent of jobs are found through one's network—and we recently saw that even board seats follow the same 80/20 rule—then it stands to reason that one should start thinking about networking early.
For tomorrow's leaders still in school, it's not too soon to build a great LinkedIn profile, and the July 31 New York Times article Finding a Career in LinkedIn Profiles is a good start.
Read More"So why did you become [insert job title].?" (Notice the "why," not the "how.")
The beauty of the question is in the answer. Isn't it always?
Read MoreHeidrick & Struggles tweeted this morning a link to their 2015 CEO Report: Embracing the Paradoxes of Leadership and the Power of Doubt. If you're a CEO, or well on your way, this quite simply is one not to miss.
Read MoreI field two to four new business calls every day, mostly from executive to mid-career professionals looking to quietly work through what their futures might hold if they nosed around a bit.
In nearly every instance, they express embarrassment about their out-of-date résumés. Understandable, since they've been busy doing the work—not nursing a piece of paper.
Read MoreThen this morning, I stumbled upon Boyden Global Executive Search's "Candidate Resources" page, and voila! The left sidebar has a great list of BlueSteps member benefits, top among them being the most critical piece: confidentiality.
Read MoreSchuyler reflects on flubbing a student government stump speech in college, while admitting that public speaking is today "one of the most exciting and satisfying parts of [her] job."
Read MoreIt's not rocket science, but it is a lot of intention, preparation, and cross-platform career messaging clarity.
Here's a sneak peek from the search firm's August 2015 "Career Advice" column, demonstrating that good planning is particularly helpful for the stealth job seeker:
Read More"Apple's structure allows for rapid decision-making at the top and unwavering discipline and efficient execution at the bottom, both vital in this era of ever faster product cycles."
Read MorePut another way: 80% of first-time tech board members who participated in Korn Ferry Institute's research landed a board seat via their networks.
Too many otherwise successful executives and senior professionals downplay or never think about the role of networking while job searching, let alone the task of securing a board seat. Does the 80/20 rule win again?
Read MoreBut the question is a good one, because every journey begins with a single step.
If you're thinking what a Fortune 500 board directorship might look like, Heidrick & Struggles yesterday released their Four Boardroom Trends to Watch. The downloadable publication presents an interesting breakdown including new seats filled, average age of directors, percentage of directors who are current or former CEOs and CFOs, and more.
Read More"Tailor your articles and presentations strategically, so you not only speak to the audience at hand, but so the article titles have a life beyond the moment. Then when you list them on your LinkedIn profile, in your executive bio, in your executive resume, etc., you have this clear specialization. In time, you'll open the door wider to being found as a passive candidate. And odds are higher that you'll be sought for just the right fit."
Read MoreIn a perfect world, a résumé will be inherently richer in detail than its companion LinkedIn profile.
Don't believe me? Let's examine what people are placing on their LinkedIn profiles.
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