Quick Take | Tips to Help Executives and Leaders Grow
The Quick Take podcast provides concise and actionable tips to help executives and leaders, like you, tackle the thorny and complex challenges that affect us daily. By leveraging their experience and relationship with other global leaders, our hosts provide suggestions that are based on their deep experience as leaders and coaches but also pressure tested in boardrooms everywhere because they asked their friends….(almost). Hosted by James Capps and Susie Tomenchok. Episodes release weekly on Thursdays.
Quick Take | Tips to Help Executives and Leaders Grow
Navigating Time Off After a Layoff
Ever wondered how to maintain your professional relevance after a layoff? Join us as we unpack the two diverging paths senior executives often face: the choice between taking much-needed time off and diving straight back into the job market.
We promise actionable insights to help you strike that delicate balance between relaxation and staying active. Learn how to keep your momentum going, maintain visibility, and navigate the often lengthy process of landing your next role.
In this episode, we discuss the following:
1. Dealing with layoffs and career transitions.
2. Tips for managing time during a career transition.
3. The importance of staying engaged during unemployment.
CONNECT WITH SUSIE:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susietomenchok/
CONNECT WITH JAMES:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/capps/
Welcome to the Quick Take Podcast, the show where you get targeted advice and coaching for executives by executives. I'm Suzy Tominchuk.
Speaker 2:And I'm James Capps. Give us 15 minutes and we'll give you three secrets to address the complex topic of issues that are challenging executives like you today.
Speaker 1:Hey Quicksters, welcome. I'm Suzy, along with James. Look how I did that today.
Speaker 2:I'm so proud of myself, that was fantastic, yeah, yeah, yeah, that was just amazing.
Speaker 1:So what's on your mind today, James?
Speaker 2:Well, you know we were talking before we jumped in that there's been a lot of obvious layoffs going on and I've been talking to a lot of my friends who have been going through transitions and we've had layoffs, you know.
Speaker 2:You know there's been some black rockets. Our listeners know there's, um, my friends in the in the valley, uh, in the Bay area, are getting hit really hard and we've had some, some larger cuts here in Denver as well. And, and I found it really interesting that, um, there's kind of like two camps. When you talk to somebody who has had a forced, uh, separation from the company, um, and there's those people who are quote, going to take some time off and they're going to, you know, literally that's it, take some time off. And then there's other folks who are going to look at it from a different point of view and keep, you know, keep chugging along and maybe, you know, start working really hard on their next gig. Yeah, you know, from a, from a coaching perspective and a mental health perspective. I mean, what? What's your, what are your thoughts on that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's such a great. I think there's a balance there, and I often hear people say in fact, I've had some friends of mine who have gotten recently laid off and they get this package, and so you have this. You feel like you have this time that you can just kind of like sit and I get this popular sentence of I'm going to, I'm going to figure out what my next steps are when.
Speaker 1:I'm figuring out what I'm going to do and I think there's a a a balance between how active you are in that or how passive you are in that, like I think some people picture going and taking a novel to the beach and just sitting there and doing nothing like really disconnecting, which I think there's something good about really making a disconnect, especially if you've just come out of a lot of stress. There's been a lot going on in businesses, so there is time that you need to diffuse. Maybe is that the right word, or kind of unwind, but I is time that you need to diffuse. Maybe is that the right word or or kind of unwind, but I really think that you you don't jump right back in, you kind of, but you don't completely unplug, but there's something in the middle of that. What do you think Interesting?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that, um, you know, certainly for me, uh, you know, concerned would be that I would be that I would never go back. That tool would start to dull Boy this beach and that book there's 20 more books I haven't finished reading, At least a complete and other case of beer I haven't finished. So, yeah, what's the balance between checking out and and and just changing your perspective?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and to your point too, is that the longer that time goes by, it just kind of starts to just go by and then you feel out of the loop, you feel like you're not, you're getting irrelevant and that you're not in it. So you, this insecurity seeps in.
Speaker 2:So I think that's a great point.
Speaker 1:So I think it's really important to stay connected to some perspective, and that's those are the tips. Those are going to be around, the tips that I provide, because I'm doing the tips today.
Speaker 2:Oh, you've got the three.
Speaker 1:I'm excited to hear that.
Speaker 2:You know I wanted to point out too to our listeners. You know most of our listeners are pretty senior folks. You know that next job is going to take some time. Um, you know we're. It could be anywhere from six months to 18 months for the, for that next role, and that's if you start on day. You know, t plus one, and so um to your point. You know that that downtime, uh, you know, is, uh, it's gotta be considered into that, uh, that timeframe because it does ultimately, um, you don't want to waste uh time, uh, and you gotta start, uh that clock starts.
Speaker 1:Yes, and we forget that it is a long length of time, especially for senior people. You're exactly right. I think there's a metric around it, but it is, at least you know, 12 months, I would say to your point.
Speaker 2:You know one thing I remind people, and then I'm going to let you give us your three tips here. Is that what? What I love is when, uh, when you sit back and and are when you're a candidate and you're interviewing for a role, you often get frustrated. But then if you remind yourself that when you're hiring for somebody, how often things get delayed and how often HR goes on vacation or the guy from recruiting wasn't available or you had to go deal with some sort of operational fire, and so the entire process gets delayed by a month.
Speaker 2:And for you as the hiring manager, it's not that big of a deal, but for the candidate it is like the most excruciatingly long time, and so you know, time takes time, and these things are hard, and so I think it's interesting to keep that in mind when you're thinking about your next steps.
Speaker 1:I think the other point, the other side to that as well, is, if you completely disconnect people, you won't be seen People need to know you're still around, and so these tips help you be seen in a time where you don't want to be invisible.
Speaker 2:Oh, I think that's a great tip, yeah, okay, so let me hear your first tip.
Speaker 1:Yeah, this is hard for you.
Speaker 2:I can tell you're struggling with me doing this part, so oh no, I'm just so excited I don't know what to do with myself.
Speaker 1:All right. So the number one tip is to continue to network, but network light.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I think if you can put a metric around it, even once a week, find one person that you need to connect with and don't get too in your head about connect with and don't get too in your head about does it have to be at a certain company, a certain person, but somebody that is in your space or somebody that you find interesting, or maybe somebody that is ahead of you in your career. If you can connect with one person that's in your network a week, that will keep you engaged with people. It'll help you remember or be aware of what's going on in their company. Ask questions like hey, what does it feel like in your culture right now? What kind of investments are you guys making Just out of curiosity and interest and understand from their perspective what's going on? Not woe is me. I got laid off. Don't make it about that. Make it about them and just saying that you're really looking for what's next for you.
Speaker 2:But I like that, I like networking light and I like also it's important for you to kind of re-polish those conversational skills that are outside of that role you know these are. This time is an opportunity for you to, you know, kind of get your interviewing skills back up to par, yeah.
Speaker 1:I like that a lot. And don't be afraid if you haven't reached out to people in a while, it's okay, but don't have it all about you. Have it about them.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, I think we've had a lot of research that shows that people enjoy hearing from you, regardless of how long it is, and it's usually you projecting your issues on that timeframe. And yeah, certainly if you're just, you're reaching out for just a job, it's one thing. But you know, just a casual reconnection, even if after a year or two it's, it's always welcome.
Speaker 1:Yeah, all right, yes. Tip number two is self-reflection. Everybody always says I'm going to take time to figure out what's next for me? Yes, but more active than passive.
Speaker 2:Oh huge.
Speaker 1:And so really thinking about spending time and again, putting a metric in place where maybe once a week, you spend an hour at least and you think about you, look back on what did you love about your job, what did you like about the role, what did you like about the company. Start to really figure out what lights you up, what is next for you. So when you're asking yourself that question it's not just I'm not really sure You're starting to put a little bit of meat around it, because when you're networking with people, you can start to say, listen, this is what I was really good at, this is what I want to continue to do, and that will help you continue to put some meat on the bones of what you want to do next.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love that. I think the active nature is so important because there is the passive self-reflection which comes through an occasional moment of clarity. But if you actively put a plan together to do that, you're going to start crafting your story. You're going to put meat on the bone, as you put it, and I think that's so important to keep you sharp is that you really put a thought behind how you're. You're doing that self-reflection.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I hear a lot of people say you know, I'm just going to disconnect and figure out what I'm going to do next. It's not just going to. You're not going to wake up one day and just be enlightened by it. You're going to you need to make that time to really be thoughtful about that. And if you do a little at a time, you won't wake up months after and go. What the heck am I doing?
Speaker 2:What the heck happened yeah.
Speaker 1:And you will feel that way. Your confidence wanes a little bit as you go through the journey, and so having this active kind of connection to yourself will help you at those times, pull yourself back up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think people you know most of the companies that I've worked with over the years a lot of what they offer to those who have been recently displaced is a plan, just a plan, right, and just to have that kind of foundation gives confidence and deals with those times of difficulty. And so, yeah, I think actively doing that self-reflection is a big part of that. Yeah, so that leads me All right, give me a third one.
Speaker 1:Yep. It leads me very well into the last one, and this is finding a person that can help you through that journey, so that they can help you get some clarity, help you with your highs and lows. I'm calling it the pivot pal.
Speaker 2:Oh, I love it All right. Yeah, this is the person that helps you, kind of like just your sounding board, maybe the person you connect with. Yeah, I like it a lot.
Speaker 1:And I don't think it's your partner, I don't think it's your mom, I don't think it's somebody you used to work with. It's somebody that's on the outside that can have some objectivity for you to help you see, and maybe it's somebody that's gone through it before and they can help you navigate, because the people have gone through it before, understand what's about to hit you in the future and so having that pivot pal can help you make it through in a more objective and confident way.
Speaker 2:I think the key word there is objective, right. You want somebody from the outside. I know many of our listeners are senior leaders and coaches and have given that advice. Give advice during these situations. But when it happens to you, it's so great to have that what pivot pal transition trooper have somebody come in and help you with that period of time, because that's super, it's super hard.
Speaker 1:Pivot pal transition. What'd you say Trooper transition?
Speaker 2:trooper, you had to get that in there.
Speaker 1:Yes, and it's really helpful. I think that that person can be really helpful to just allow you to navigate smartly, because you do get in your own head and you want to burrow and you don't really after some time, after kind of the newness wears off, you need somebody that can really help you digest and put things in order.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that's so important and I love your advice too that it can't be your partner. It can't be somebody you worked with, definitely somebody not at your previous job, because that's simply going to be some the conversation will be very different but somebody who is just you can reach out to. Maybe it's a weekly coffee, maybe it's just a Monday email, but yeah, I think having somebody there for you is a big deal.
Speaker 1:Awesome, all right, so the three.
Speaker 2:All right, can you do it? Here's the fun, here's the tough part. I did write it down, bring them home.
Speaker 1:Okay, I did write it down. So number one is to network Network light, meaning have a connection point every week with somebody in your network that's going to be meaningful to you. Number two is self-reflection active self-reflection, not passive self-reflection. So, again, schedule time in your calendar where you're actually taking a moment to focus on you and reflect back. And then the third is to find your pivot pal. Who is that person that can help you and be your support through this journey? For you, it's essential.
Speaker 2:Oh, great advice. I mean, there are so many people going through these transitions right now and it's a weird time. There's layoffs and hiring, so I think a lot of our friends are running into this, so that's such good advice.
Speaker 1:Yes, and they always will be, so this is one that will stay. That's exactly right. Sadly, this is is one that will stay.
Speaker 2:That's exactly right. Sadly, this is the nature of the beast.
Speaker 1:That's right, all right, thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, susie, susie.
Speaker 1:James.
Speaker 2:You suddenly find out I am a genie and I'm not a good one. I'm an evil genie, but I do like you and we're friends. I'm going to turn you into an animal and there's nothing you can do about it. Because we're friends, I'm going to let you pick one. What animal are you going to pick?
Speaker 1:Oh man, okay, Came to mind right away. I would say an eagle.
Speaker 2:An eagle. Oh, explain why.
Speaker 1:Well, first I first was going to say horse, you know, and then I just was like no, I don't want that experience, I don't want to stand, I don't want to sleep standing up.
Speaker 2:I just don't understand that I have to lay down. I just like my feet would get tired. I mean, there's just not a lot of really good horse fashion.
Speaker 1:I have to say my ankles are small enough to be a horse, so I have horse-like legs. Anyway, that's just okay. We didn't pick horse, so let's go back to eagle. So I picked eagle because I love I've always wanted to be a bird in the wind and just like sit there and just kind of like fly. I always I loved it. I love being up and having perspective, looking down, like when I fly in a plane. I just I look down and I think I wonder what all those people do. I wish it was like a little like a wonder or I imagine what it's like. So I love that perspective from above.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 1:I've always thought just that, that ease of being able to fly, and I figured if I'm going to pick a bird I better pick one that has a great chance of survival. I don't know that I'd like to eat like rodents and stuff live and pick them up when they least suspect it. Could you imagine like all of a sudden you're just walking minding your own business, All of a sudden you're up in the air and then you're gone.
Speaker 2:Hopefully it's quick.
Speaker 1:Hopefully it's quick. So there you go, not a horse. Not a horse. Thanks for listening to this week's episode of Quick Take, where we talk about the questions that are on the mind of executives everywhere. Connect with us and share what's on your mind.
Speaker 2:You can find us on LinkedIn, youtube or whatever nerdy place on the internet. You find your podcasts. Our links to the show are in the show notes. We appreciate you.
