www.sharongraham.ca

Recently, a 6-figure executive contacted our firm looking for information on our branded resume portfolio packages. From the start of the call, it was clear that this person was one of those “difficult” senior executives. You know the ones — in an effort to “sound” important, they speak down to their colleagues, employees, and anybody who is willing to take it.

Rather than letting me ask some questions to understand his needs, this person started the call with a list of demands. Without ever knowing who he was speaking with nor explaining what he wanted to achieve in his career transition, he had already made up his mind about how his resume should look, what we should put in, and what we should leave out.

Poor guy! He really did not “get” the power of leveraging a professional rather than pushing around the “hired help.” I almost decided not to retain him as a client of Graham Management Group. What a loss for him!

When I finally got a word in, I explained who I was. As soon as he realized this, his demeanor completely changed. In fact, the next words he said are “Oh I didn’t know that I was speaking with THE Sharon Graham.” I went on to ask a number of probing questions about his situation and needs. Then, I recommended an appropriate service, all the while delivering the message that you must treat everyone as you would want to be treated yourself.

If you are an executive, manager, or leader of any kind and you are in a job search — then this message is for you. 

One so-called rule about leadership is to display confidence. However, there is a very fine line between confidence and arrogance.

In a career transition, some candidates feel the need to dominate every meeting or interview in order to show their authority and strengths. Unfortunately, this strategy often comes across as aggressive and confrontational.

Treat everyone you meet with respect and as an equal, regardless of what level that individual holds. During conversations, do not be controlling. Never exaggerate, brag, or use sophisticated terms just to look important.

As a an executive, you must show your leadership qualities. If you do this respectfully, you will have a much better chance of creating the positive relationship you require to receive a call back.

Thank you for reading my blog! Please email me if you spot any errors in this post.

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