Career Transitions: Constructive Guidance in Times of change The Strickland Group helps organizations achieve positive realignment in the executive suite through the redirection of affected personnel. Our consultants, committed to the objectives of client companies, work -- through a systematic and personalized process -- to help executives identify and implement realistic career options. Understanding "Transition Support" A Transition-Management Philosophy Whose Time Has Come A Task-Oriented Approach Career/Life Inventory Spouses, Partners, Friends, and Family Support Structuring the "Campaign" The "Power Tools" Of Transition Support Planning the Departure Post-Transition Support Interviewing -- A Science and An Art Negotiating: Getting What You Want Understanding "Transition Support": Achieving Positive, Effective Executive Realignment Transiton support by Strickland Group professionals helps organizations and their executives find positive solutions to the challenges arising from corporate change. We work closely with organizations to build customized strategies that, in times of change, help to minimize disruption and provide measurable results for executives and their organizations. Through the mastery of essential career - management, transition, and search skills, Strickland consultants guide executives in goal-oriented job searches that result in rewarding new positions. Our services include -- and yet go far beyond -- traditional "outplacement" consulting, to cover organizational follow-up, orchestrating career/life inventories, and counseling spouses, partners and families. By focusing on the positive aspects of change, and identifying the full range of an executive's professional and personal strengths, The Strickland Group aims to make career-transition and outplacement productive, enlightening experiences. Consequently, the executive achieves a broader vision of career and life options -- options that are frequently considerably beyond his or her previous expectations. Return to the List A Transition-Management Philosophy Whose Time Has Come The current era of unprecedented corporate change is affecting organizations and executives alike. Whether merger, reorganization, downsizing, or spin-off, widespread upheaval in the executive suite has become a fact of corporate life that may be with us for years to come. Within this climate, achieving positive transition for the executive with minimal impact on the organization is both an imperative and a challenge. Successful transitions are accomplished with care and skill. That's where The Strickland Group has been successful. Our focus on organizational goals; our emphasis on performance; and our hands-on expertise in the development of customized solutions consistently yield results that meet, and in most cases exceed, the expectations of our clients. Return to the List A Task-Oriented Approach Career transition is viewed by The Strickland Group as a task-oriented experience in which we encourage a positive, realistic focus on the strengths and abilities of executives. A primary goal is identifying an executive's personal and professional goals -- goals that determine the emphasis and direction of the transition. The executive is guided in the proper use of powerful search tools that are instrumental in attaining gratifying new career opportunities. Importantly, past performance is examined to clarify issues that might impact the transition. When key issues are uncovered, corrective strategies are easily developed. Return to the List Career/Life Inventory A successful transition begins with a thorough self-examination of an executive's interests, values, management style, achievements, transferable skills and knowledge base. Strickland consultants guide executives through in-depth exercises to uncover their full range of possibilities -- knowledge that helps shape the focus and goals of a job search. Return to the List Spouses, Partners, Friends, and Family Support During a time of transition, spouses, friends, and partners of affected executives can feel as much stress, worry, and disorientation as the executive in question. Unfortunately, these individuals' well-being can be overlooked, since the principal focus is on the executive in question. For this reason, in any transition-support consultation, Strickland pays particular attention to spouses' concerns where appropriate, and can provide consultation services where needed. Spouses, close friends, and relatives immediately impacted by a career transition are encouraged to play an integral role in the process. These important relationships can contribute to an executive's well being and help ensure positive resolution of a challenging period. Strickland consultants encourage open, constructive dialogue to strengthen support and understanding of the executive's experience. Where appropriate, group consulting is provided, and coaching and support are available to family members and other significant relations on an individual basis. Return to the List Structuring the "Campaign" From structuring "exit statements" to working on professional image to improving negotiating skills to actually securing and taking charge in a new position, Strickland Group professionals know that their primary function is facilitating an executive's effective movement from one management environment to another. Strickland consultants see themselves as "campaign managers," helping to orchestrate everything from assessing re-employment options and engineering search strategies ... to assisting in nontraditional and entrepreneurial career explorations and changes. Return to the List The "Power Tools" of Transition Support One of the key factors in effective career transition is the proper use of the tools at hand. A major role of Strickland Group consultants is utilizing these tools in daily work with executives in transition. Strickland Group consultants can give key support in all these areas: Reason-for-Leaving Statements References Development of Contacts Telephone Communication Letter-Writing Preparing Resumes Record-Keeping Evaluating the Search Campaign Honing Negotiating Skills Research / Technical Support Return to the List Planning the Departure Departure from an organization, undeniably somewhat stressful for most executives, can be a challenge for the company as well. By carefully assessing an executive's professional and personal situation, creating a professional alliance, and attending to the immediate concerns, Strickland consultants help prevent or minimize problems of conflict, morale, or logistics that may arise. Extensive support is given in planning the departure session including the determination of site, attendees, coaching the parties involved, and deciding how to proceed given an executive's particular circumstances. Return to the List Post-Transition Support The Strickland Group's involvement doesn't end when an executive moves on. With the beginning of a new position, the executive enters an exciting, demanding phase in which new horizons are embraced, but in which performance is often closely scrutinized. Strickland maintains contact during this period to help the executive become firmly established, and provides ongoing coaching and support as needed. In some ways, the beginning of a new position often provides the opportunity for Strickland consultants to do their most meaningful work with a candidate. The first few months of any position can be the most crucial period in a candidate's eventual success, and the subtleties and intricacies of adjusting to a new environment can be elusive. Strickland consultants play a key role in helping the candidate to match his or her expectations for the position with senior management's expectations of his or her performance during this transitional period. Return to the List Interviewing -- A Science And An Art For many executives, interviewing is perhaps the most daunting aspect of a career transition. Strickland consultants' vast experience helps an executive anticipate almost any question that might arise. Moreover, individuals at varying levels in the same company frequently interview a prospective manager. Effective preparation involves in-depth research, recognizing distinct types of interviews and learning the correct approach for each. Strickland consultants' approach to the interviewing process is based on the knowledge that a natural, unguarded, effective flow of information -- one that allows parties to determine their mutual "fit," or lack thereof -- is the foundation of the most productive interviews. Overcoming counterproductive "mindsets" and assumptions can allow the interview to be a mutually rewarding learning experience, as opposed to a hurdle to be endured and overcome. Return to the List Negotiating: Getting What You Want It has been said that, in business, you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. While this may be a bit harsh, Strickland consultants believe that most successful business -- and indeed, many personal -- relationships are based on negotiation. Strickland helps executives see the possibilities that open up when negotiating is looked at as a positive, natural process based on clear communication and an honest stating of objectives, requirements, and possible areas for compromise. The best negotiation is based on a clear vision of what you want, an appropriate and effective way of presenting it, and a desire to effect a "fit." It is Strickland's experience that the more clearly one party in a negotiation states his or her position, the more likely he or she is to get frankness and honesty in response. If this path is followed, even when a "fit" or agreement is not achieved, the parties involved in the negotiation -- whether it involves a management position, salary discussion, or business conflict -- can part with dignity and grace, rather than with a feeling of resentment or failure. Return to the List