Leadership development and executive branding experts Beth Banks Cohn Ph.D. and Roz Usheroff, co-authors of practical career strategy and leadership development book Taking the Leap: Managing Your Career in Turbulent Times...and Beyond, were kind enough to take the time to answer some questions about their career transformational book.
My thanks to Roz Usheroff and Beth Banks Cohn for their wonderful answers that provide information on the most important career development skills, and their application in any organization or economic conditions.
What was the background to writing this book, Taking the Leap: Managing Your Career in Turbulent Times...and Beyond?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: The two of us were talking about the need we have seen, as we work in different corporations, for people to be more strategic in how they manage their careers. We decided to combine our expertise and write a book about it, because our clients and others have told us they are hungry for practical ways to be more resilient, move up the corporate ladder faster, get noticed, be more successful, make more money, be masterful communicators and networkers, and so on.
Are the rules of employment and career management changing, especially in these turbulent economic times?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: The rules of employment and career management aren't changing as much as the business environment is. By that we mean individuals should always have been managing their careers and been strategic in how they work within their corporations. But the current business environment is such that if you neglected managing your career in a focused and conscious way, you may not be able to "get by" the way you might have in the past. Continually reading the landscape of your company, continually looking at what value you bring to the organization, and regularly reviewing where you are and where you want to go was a good idea before; now it is imperative.
Roz Usheroff (photo left)
Is this advice equally valid for a Baby Boomer nearing retirement, a Generation X employee in mid-career, and a recent Millennial graduate just entering the workforce?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: This information is relevant to everyone, no matter where they are in their career. A baby boomer nearing retirement can still use this information, but they will use it differently because they may be approaching the end of their current career. We often meet baby boomers who have no interest in retiring at 65, but nevertheless want to pursue a different field, or alter their level of involvement, such as going in an entrepreneurial direction such as consulting.
On the other hand, Gen Xers in mid-career can use the strategies in the book to steer their careers in a different direction, say, from marketing to management, or in the same direction just with more purpose--gaining new clients or expanding their influence in the company, for instance. And Millennials can use the book's principles and tools to look at their first company differently, gain some political savvy, and boost or develop other business skills that might otherwise take them years to acquire.
Can proper career management help an employee avoid being part of a company layoff?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: Absolutely. If you have been managing your career, creating your "personal board of directors" and your larger network, and keeping your skills sharp in your chosen profession you will be much better off if a layoff occurs than if you had no plan at all. Part of what we show employees is how to be both proactive and defensive strategically, so as to be the last man standing in a layoff, or else the first hired and most sought after by other companies--a person with lots of options and opportunities in any scenario.
What type of employee stays employed when others are being let go?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: That is hard to say, since sometimes a layoff has nothing to do with you and the job and value you bring to a corporation. We'd like to think those who constantly bring value, who create networks and connections inside their companies, and who know how to navigate the politics will remain employed. But sometimes that won't be true. What is true, though, is that if you are that person you will be able to use all you've built to find yourself another job as quickly as possible.
How can an employee take control of their own destiny and discover their own inner strengths and talents?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: Read our book! Also, seek outside help, a coach or mentor who can be a partner in the discovery process. Develop your strengths--such as communication or tech skills. Above all, make a career plan. Don't just treat your job as a flowing stream that takes you along in the current. Navigate that stream. Know what your goals are. Play the power politics and networking games. Be a leader and be ambitious, no matter what your level in the company.
What is personal leadership and how can it help an employee succeed?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: Personal leadership is knowing what you stand for, deciding what kind of leader you want to be, and then working toward that continually. Even if you know you never want to be more than an individual contributor, you can still decide what kind of personal leadership you will show in your job and then work toward that. A large part of personal leadership is branding yourself. Define what makes you different from everyone else. Once you know who you are, you can focus on developing the major leadership traits: trustworthiness, courage, passion, compassion, confidence, humility, inspiration, political savvy, leading without authority, and approachability. When you consciously work on behaviors and skills that demonstrate high standards in these leadership areas, you will gain influence, your reputation will soar, and you'll have a competitive edge in everything you do.
Beth Banks Cohn (photo left)
How critical are strong written and interpersonal communication skills in an ever more digital world?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff Interpersonal communication skills are more critical than ever. Just because you can send an email doesn't mean you should. Knowing when to use technology and when to just pick up the phone will be critical in the future. Written communication is also important, but using the written word well won't always help you; interpersonal communication skills will.
Office politics are often seen as part of any organization. How can an employee succeed while avoiding the pitfalls of office politics involvement?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: Office politics are different from political savvy. Being politically savvy can help you maneuver through office politics by helping you understand the bigger picture in which the office politics exist. For example, an essential survival skill is to be able to read the landscape and then act in accordance with your assessment. Who holds the formal power in your company? Who holds the informal power? Who's connected to whom? Using this approach, an employee will be able to showcase her contributions by involving the right people. She'll also be able to build her "street cred" by gaining a reputation for making things happen.
Office culture can also be toxic, and if you're not aware of the power dynamics, you can go down. When Beth first started out in business, her first boss gave her some great advice: "Never say anything bad about anyone." This has helped tremendously over the years by reminding us that there are two sides to every story and that sometimes there are multiple truths. Employees can avoid the pitfalls of negative office politics by simply being aware of the minefields and learning to step around them.
In an increasingly globalized economy, should employees look to global opportunities for career advancement around the world?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: We have always encouraged people to take international assignments if they are available. The knowledge, confidence, and business experience you get from working and living in another culture is invaluable. Being effective in a multicultural work environment is a skill set that every employer values--and one you can leverage in today's increasingly diverse workplaces.
What is the one piece of advice that every employee should follow at any point in a career?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: Never stop growing and evolving, both personally and professionally.
What is next for Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff?
Beth Banks Cohn and Roz Usheroff: Beth is going to write her next book on change as a follow-up to her first book, ChangeSmart. The next book will be on communication during a change effort. And she'll continue to build her consulting practice.
Roz is continuing to build and expand the speaking part of her business--keynotes and seminars--as well as continuing her work with personal branding.
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My book review of Taking the Leap: Managing Your Career in Turbulent Times...and Beyond by Beth Banks Cohn Ph.D. and Roz Usheroff
Beth Banks Cohn Ph.D. is a leading expert in change management and leadership development. Roz Usheroff is an internationally recognized communication expert and personal branding executive coach. They are coauthors of the new book, Taking the Leap: Managing Your Career in Turbulent Times...and Beyond. You can find out more about them at www.banksconsulting.net and www.usheroff.com.
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