Executives and professionals are trained to make evidence-based decisions and they want data and insights when in career transition as well.
When one searches for the term, “evidence-based decision making” the earliest references seem to have shown up in scholarly 1980s medical journals. In a health crisis we want a doctor’s recommendations, rooted in science and practice and proven outcomes. Even that executive who ignores data when making decisions wants facts when it comes to his health!
Data and research advance a field by stimulating thinking, encouraging questioning and by helping people to make use of the insights to move forward. For example, trepanation (boring holes in our skulls) and bloodletting are now out of favour!
Having invested more than 18 years practicing career transition with over 600 executives I find that clients want to have questions answered with facts as opposed to musings or anecdotes. Executives who are accustomed to dealing in facts expect them while in this process and that is why we have them at our disposal.
We leverage proprietary studies that provide insights into the experience of people at the time they lose their roles, and the experience of finding their next position. We run research with former clients into their attitudes and beliefs related to career transition and its impact.
Our approach helps our clients to better understand what they will be facing, to anticipate some of the challenges and frustrations and it encourages them as they learn others have faced similar scenarios.
For example, when new clients ask about what to expect, we tell them we asked graduates, “How did the process of finding your new role measure versus your expectations?” The data shows that 38% found it “as expected”, 19% found it “easier than expected” and 43% found it “more difficult than expected.” This helps them to prepare mentally for the ups and downs.
The research can also help our clients to talk about expectations and the process with their families and friends. It is much easier to have conversations about what to expect during the career transition process when one has some facts as reference points.
Being able to write that 83% of clients agreed that “the transition resulted in a better career situation” and 94% agreed that “the transition resulted in a better overall personal perspective” is evidence that our approach works pretty well, yet these numbers show there remains room for improvement. Those are the facts.