Strategic Career Planning for Leaders

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Strategic Career
Planning for
Leaders
Roadmap for Advancing a
Leader’s Career
© 2019 SOLIDleaders, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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Starting with the
End in Mind
Multiple Streams Make a River
SECTION ONE

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Multiple Steams . . .
Multiple streams of
interest:
• Creates a rich river of work
in semi-retirement
• Enables you to ‘give back’
in meaningful ways
Multiple streams of
activity also:
• Keeps life interesting
• Diversifies income sources
• Allows maximum freedom
and flexibility

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What should I do when I retire?
Retiring
• Bad idea; within six months “dullness” sets in
• Accelerates mental and physical deterioration
• Especially demoralizing for good leaders
• “Retire when you need hospice”
Portfolio Life
• Diversified, like an investment portfolio
• Plan for a smorgasbord of activity

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What is your strategic career plan?
Most don’t plan career – “strategy-less”
• Dangerous; can derail your career
- The older you get, the more dangerous this is
• Companies/recruiters pursue their own priorities
- Puts you at the effect of their self-interest
• Determine/execute what’s best for you
- You and only you are responsible for managing your career
ACTION: Take Control of Your Career

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Planning
Planning starts with the “end in mind”
• Both long range AND tactical vision
- First, look out several career moves
- Where do you want to be?
• Start today to prepare for ‘Portfolio Life’
- Experiment with “semi-retirement activities now
- Dabble
ACTION: Create a Career Roadmap

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Need for a Road Map
Denver
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Dallas
Mapping out an executive
career is easy if you know
where you are, and where
you want to end up.
“Driving without a roadmap and a clear destination
may get you somewhere you don’t want to go.”

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Steps to Developing a Road Map
1. Define long-range goals
• Also known as Portfolio Life (semi-retirement)
- See list of Sample Portfolio Activities
- Pick those activities that are in your Sweet Spot (See next slide)
2. Define mid-range goals
3. Define what you are going to do as your next role
We call this 3-step process
“Reverse Engineering Your Career”
AKA “Start with the End in Mind”

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Sweet Spot Defined
The intersection of:
• Natural Direction
• Greatest Skills
• Proven Abilities
• Greatest Passions

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Hitting Your Sweet Spot
By doing things that are in
your sweet spot, you are
much more likely to achieve
maximum performance and
job satisfaction, while
making the greatest
contribution to society.

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Definition of Terms
Skills
• Execution, Relationships, Management, Leadership, Core Values
• Soft skills: See SOLID’s competency model
Abilities
• Subject matter expertise, Role expertise (i.e. VP Sales function), Industry
expertise (i.e. technology); Size expertise (i.e. VC-backed startups)
Direction
• The kind of work makes the most sense given your career history.
• “It is always easier to ride the horse in the direction it is going.”
Passion
• Most exciting, energizing, and motivating
• “Life’s too short over age 50 to do that for which you are not most
passionate”

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Bi-Focal Career Planning
Present Role Next Role Role After Next Portfolio
Tactical Goal: Get
“Next Role”
Job Focus
Career Focus
”Next”
”Next Next”
”Portfolio”
”Now”
Strategic Goal:
Manage Career
“Plan your career, and work
your plan; if you fail to plan,
you have planned to fail.”

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Toward a
Portfolio Career
SECTION TWO

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Journey to a Diversified Portfolio
“Unsuccessful Retirement” Defined:
Take a role post-portfolio decision; but
now it is more of a ‘project focus’ and
not a long-term career move
Toward
Portfolio
Life

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Journey from Receiving to Giving
The “Give Back”
phase of life
Portfolio Life
The beginning of the
“Give Back” phase of
your career

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Sample Portfolio Activities
Interim Leader
• 1 Day/week
• 1 Day/month
• Daily until replaced
Board Member
• For-profit-private
• For-profit-public
• Non-profit
Advisor to
• For-profit boards
• Non-profit boards
• Senior leaders
Capital Formation
• Deal making/Investing
• Business modeling
• Raising money
Professional Services
• Management consulting
• CEO & board advising
• Leadership coaching
Entrepreneurial Ventures
• Start/purchase a company
• Start a non-profit
• Invent
Family Interests
• Work in family business
• Help start family business
Education & Non-Profit
• Teaching at University
• Speaking
• Writing
• Community Service
• Resource Development

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Benefits of Portfolio Lifestyle
• Flexible schedule
– Freedom to be more spontaneous
• More time for personal
– Deeper relationship with friends and family
• Time for recharging batteries
– To prepare for a ‘next’ role
– Pursue fitness/hobbies
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
- Maria Robinson

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Obstacles to Portfolio Lifestyle
• Innate drive to run an organization
• Missing the thrill of leading
• Boredom
• Lack of significant cash flow
• Risk aversion
• Risk of over-commitment
• Opportunity overload – greater difficulty in deciding
where and how to invest time

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Sabbatical
• OK to take time off
– Prevent burnout
– Spend time with family
– Do ‘Bucket List’ activities
• Too much time is sub-optimal
– Skills unused begin atrophying after six months
• Paradigm shift:
– Not ‘Unemployed’, you are ‘in-between roles”

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Road Map to
Advancing
Your Career
SECTION THREE

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8 Steps to Career Advancement
No. Objective Summary
1 Orientation
Learn how to best use your career coach, get the most out of a career coaching
engagement, and become acclimated to the process.
2 Assessment
Gain a thorough and accurate career assessment and analysis to develop the best
possible roadmap for long-term career success.
3 Goals
Create a detailed, written, and executable strategic career advancement plan, aligned
with personal goals, yielding the greatest career satisfaction.
4 Tools
Have the most effective tools possible to execute your career plan including a
compelling resume and other related collateral.
5 Networks
Design a strategy to effectively leverage networks, and gain Coach’s frequent
accountability to push you to uncover key employment options.
6 Interviews
Outperform other candidates by employing advanced interview techniques and over-
preparing with Coach for key interviews.
7 Negotiations
Gain multiple offers, create a bidding war, drive up your value, and employ advanced
counter-offer techniques to negotiate best offers.
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Starting New
Role
Design plan to make a highly effective entry into role, clearly establishing self,
assimilating into the culture, and securing early wins.

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Summary
SECTION FOUR

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Ideas for Next Steps
• Dabble in Portfolio Life now; experiment
• Brainstorm with SOLID coaches/others
• Begin research/informational interviews
• Assess where you are today
• Assess where you want to be in 10 – 20 years
• Develop a demanding, written career plan
• Hire a career coach  to help you execute

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References
“I worked with Daniel in my personal transition from one career path to another. He asks
the right questions (not just the easy ones), uses his networks for the benefit of his
clients, and is good at envisioning various pathways forward. I would recommend Daniel
to anyone who is interested in making a transition.”
– Robin Ferracone; CEO at Farient Advisors, LLC
“Daniel has been very instrumental in accelerating my transitions into each new role …
the top of the pyramid doesn’t give the Chief Executive many venues to challenge his/her
thinking… Daniel served me very well as my sidekick, and helped me rehearse difficult
situations beforehand.”
– Arie Brish; Investor, Adviser, Board of Directors, Interim CEO

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References
“Daniel Mueller is a gifted and well-connected executive career coach who added
tremendous value both to my company during a significant period of transition. I highly
recommend Daniel for anyone motivated to improve their career.”
– Robert Jones; COO/CTO at hop.life
“I have worked with Daniel for over 20 years now. He has helped me significantly with
career decisions…his knowledge, experience, friendship and partnering approach have
been a perfect blend for my continued growth both at home and at work.”
– John Ciulla; President & CEO at Regatta Solutions Group

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References
“Daniel is an executive coach who distinguishes himself in his field by his savvy,
insightful, and practical advice. His knowledge of the corporate world allows him to ‘cut to
the chase’ to deliver actionable advice that will allow his clients to accelerate their
careers. He consistently develops creative solutions to problems and obstacles in order
to convert them to opportunities. I strongly recommend him to anyone hoping to unlock
their professional potential.” - Eileen Kamerick; Board member, CFO, Trusted Advisor
“I have known Daniel for more than 10 years. During the time I have worked with
Daniel several times and I can confidently say I will work with him again. I find Daniel
to be an excellent coach and mentor. He has a straight forward, no nonsense
approach that enabled my career growth from Manager to VP. I am so confident with
Daniel’s ability to help people navigate their career path I have recommended Daniel
to a family member.” - Pat Downing; Chief Technology Officer at FirstClose

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References
“Daniel provided amazing support for me in my career transition to VP of Business
Development for a software company. He helped me advance my career performance,
improve my family life, and grow spiritually.”
- Tom Fornoff; Partner at Yvonne Tocquigny Branding Group
“Working with Daniel during my job search was beneficial for so many reasons.
Daniel introduced me to hiring executives and peers, and helped me assess all areas
of my life … kept me focused on my goals and was a fantastic sounding board and
role-playing guide. Within four months of engaging with Daniel, I had received
multiple job offers… Daniel continues to coach me today.”
– Carolyn Jenkins; CEO at Khorus Software

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Complimentary Coaching
Would you like a gift
certificate to try out
SOLIDleaders Executive
Coaching to either grow
your career or enhance
your leadership skills?
http://solidleaders.com/schedule

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SOLID Career Toolbox
• Step 1: Orientation to Career Coaching
• Step 2: Assessment
• Step 3: Goals
• Step 4: Tools - Resume, Bio, Elevator
Speeches, Cover Letters
• Step 5: Networks
• Step 6: Interviews
• Step 7: Negotiating and Closing
• Step 8: On Boarding - Starting the New Job

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• Step 1.1 Strategic Career Planning for Leaders
• Step 1.2 Orientation to Career Coaching - The Leader’s Career
Advancement Road Map
• Step 1.3 Career Coaching Boundaries
• Step 1.4 Initial Career Goals Summary
Step 1: Orientation to Career Coaching

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• Step 2.1 Eliminate Executive Blind Spots
• Step 2.2 Markers of a Leader
• Step 2.3 The Adaptable Leader - Influencer of Human Behavior
• Step 2.4 SOLID Leadership Assessment
Step 2: Assessment

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• Step 3.1 Goal Attainment for Leaders
• Step 3.2 Ideal Executive Position - The Science of Advancing an
Executive Career
Step 3: Goals

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• Step 4.1 Elevator Speeches
• Step 4.2 Resume
• Step 4.2 Bio
• Step 4.2 Cover Letters and Other Types of Letters
Step 4: Tools - Resume, Bio, Elevator Speeches,
Cover Letters

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• Step 5.1 Networking Tool
• Step 5.2 SOLID Networking Methodology
• Step 5.3 Executive Recruiters - The Inside Story
Step 5: Networks

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• Step 6.1 Interview Methodology
• Step 6.2 Interview Follow-up Tool
• Step 6.3 Interview Tracking Tool
• Step 6.4 Tough Interview Questions Tool
• Step 6.5 Interview Exercises
Step 6: Interviews

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• Step 7.1 Negotiating and Offer Comparison Tool
• Step 7.2 Counter Offer Example
• Step 7.3 Decision-making Tool
Step 7: Negotiating and Closing

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• Step 8.1 The Critical 100
• Step 8.2 SOLID Executive Competencies
• Step 8.3 Leadership Coaching - Growing to Next Level
Step 8: On Boarding - Starting the New Job

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About SOLID
Leaders
Executive Briefing
on Capabilities

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About SOLID Leaders, LLC.
SOLID Leaders, LLC. is an innovative global leader and trusted
advisor delivering business and personal transformation to senior
leaders.
Our team of seasoned CEOs and senior executives are skilled change
agents whose proven success assists organizations and their leaders
achieve measurable results. Our broad industry experience supports
companies from startups to the Fortune 500.
SOLID Leader’s purpose is to transform leaders, those whom they lead,
and the organizations they run, delivering superior, leading edge CEO
and board advising, senior executive coaching, and C-suite consulting
with quantifiable return on investment.

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About Daniel Mueller
Daniel Mueller provides coaching for leaders at every level. A pioneer of the
executive leadership coaching industry, he is passionately dedicated to helping
executives become more effective in every aspect of their personal and
professional lives.
Since 1996, Daniel has coached more than 1,200 CEOs, senior executives,
and emerging leaders, most of whom have had transformational results.
Thanks to hundreds of participating clients in the mid-80s and early 90s, Daniel developed a proprietary
coaching methodology that has been validated over the past two decades and used worldwide by numbers
of other professional leadership coaches.
During the late 80s, Daniel had a meteoric rise to the top of the newly emerging executive leadership
coaching profession. The more outwardly successful he became, the greater the internal pain of feeling
like an imposter, and the need to numb this pain with alcohol. On February 16, 1996, Daniel had a huge
moral and spiritual failure that led him into recovery from alcoholism on March 4, 1996. Humbled and
broken, he began working to achieve personal transformation from the inside out. This story of success,
failure, and redemption has led to his favorite saying: “I coach from a place of weakness, not strength.”
Vulnerability and transparency have become the hallmarks of SOLID’s coaching methodology. Feel free to
ask for more information on this inspiring story.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/solidleaders/

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Would you like a gift
certificate to try out
SOLIDleaders Executive
Coaching to either grow
your career or enhance
your leadership skills?

42
Book Your Session today

Strategic Career Planning for Leaders

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