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Denise Brosseau - Building Well-Connected Leaders
So what is an executive talent agent anyway?
Ever since I started my company, people have been asking me “what is an executive talent agent anyway?” Usually their question implies the genuine interest that every business owner hopes for – that interest that might mean they will be a client someday. Other times, I will admit, their skepticism is right out there, and you can read in their eyes that what they really want to say is “what in the world are you talking about…did you make that up?” Well, sort of, I want to say… but I don’t.
An executive talent agent is like an executive recruiter that works for you instead of working for a company, I explain. Or, an executive talent agent helps you take your career to the next level when you’re too busy just doing your present job to think strategically about your longer term career options and opportunities. Busy, fast track executives and start-up CEOs get it pretty quickly. And those are the people I can help the most, so I guess that’s all I need to say. Or is it?
What I’ve discovered is an executive talent agent can be a lot of different things depending on their client’s needs. Sometimes a client needs to think through several different options and just needs a sounding board. Sometimes they need to complete a specific task – like getting their LinkedIn profile up-to-date or finalizing a resume. Sometimes they need connections – to a VC, banker, strategic partner, key hire, or hiring manager. And sometimes, it’s true, they need a shoulder to cry on or even a swift kick in the right direction. Yes, an executive talent agent needs to be sure she has the Kleenex AND the (kinder, gentler) cattle prod handy to help people move forward in the direction they know they need to go…but are resisting getting there.
I really love my work. I meet the most interesting people and I have a great deal of satisfaction when they actually achieve their (at first seemingly unachieveable) goals. And yes, it’s definitely pretty gratifying when clients take your advice and it turns out to be exactly what they needed to hear…and do! Ultimately, I am a connector and having done so many different jobs and having played so many different roles in so many different industries and organizations over the years, it is wonderful when all of those experiences and the Rolodex I was able to compile as a result, can truly help others get where they are going faster. That’s when I know that I am doing exactly what I should be doing, even if sometimes I have to explain it to people.
Posted by Denise Brosseau on 27th May, 2009 | Comments
Tags: executive talent agent, executive coach, Well-Connected Leader, recruiter, career coach There are no comments for this post Post a CommentHTML is not allowed in comments, http://... will be automatically linked.
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