In 2015, Ken Schmitt, founder and CEO of boutique recruiting firm TurningPoint Executive Search, pitched two similarly awful options to his small team: either laying off staff or working with an organization that wasn’t aligned with their company’s values. However, by being open and vulnerable in his pitch to the team, Ken was offered a third option that he hadn’t considered.
Pay close attention to the impossible situation that Ken was in, with regard to his business and his team, and how the work culture he has fostered helped to create a solution. I also love the value that Ken and his team place on preserving their brand’s reputation. How you can apply this thinking to your future pitching opportunities?
Pitched: A Layoff to His Team
Topics covered include:
- An introduction to Ken and the work he does at TurningPoint
- How Ken’s established leadership style, centered on openness and vulnerability, led him to pitch two lousy options to his team
- The unexpected solution that Ken’s team presented to him, and the positive outcomes that followed their intervention
- Ken’s takeaways from the experience
Did you find Ken’s style of leadership inspiring? And do you find this kind of content helpful? Connect with me on LinkedIn and let’s keep the conversation going.
The Podwize Group’s resources mentioned in this episode:
- Learn more about the different levels of The Podwize Group’s services – including our Concierge Pitching Service and Jumpstart Intensive
- Connect with Angie on LinkedIn
Podcasts mentioned in this episode:
- My Podcast Love of the Week, the podcast that Ken hosts, Leadership Happens from TurningPoint Executive Search
Other resources mentioned in this episode:
- Connect with Ken on LinkedIn
- Read Ken’s book, The Practical Optimist: An Entrepreneurial Journey Through Life’s Turning Points
- Visit TurningPoint Executive Search
- Read The Heart of Business: Leadership Principles for the Next Era of Capitalism by Hubert Joly
- Explore books by Michael E. Gerber
Until next time, be well and get pitched, my friend!
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