Changes in the Weather

By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

“You don’t need a weatherman
To know which way the wind blows”

Bob Dylan, “Subterranean Homesick Blues”

I never would have imagined Bob Dylan writing about C suite professionals but as I work with C suite professionals globally, a common story emerges.

They are hired to do something.

They achieve success.

The President/Board/VCs change gears.

They want to bring someone on from their past.

They set up the current C suite pro in a no-win situation so they can create an excuse to fire them and replace them with their former subordinate.

I’ve had 3 calls in the last 2 weeks like this. One was a particularly sad story. A C level exec who helped a firm more than double sales in less than a year. Took a stagnant brand and helped make them hot again. Their work was world class, the brand achieved great recognition on a shoestring budget.

Fired.

There has to be more!

He missed the wind change direction.

The common advice is to “manage up” better. It’s not like they are going to put you on a performance improvement plan. You are gone because the…