Tried and true methods to land your next C-level position
4 Dec, 2019
Ted Coss discusses methods on how to land your next C-Level position.
Let’s face it—no one likes change. But, there will come a time in your career when you’re ready for that next step. Most executives will spend between six and 12 months engaged in an active search. With so many different avenues available to you in today’s technologically-driven world, networking still comes out on top.
With more than three decades of experience introducing Executive level talent to the leading healthcare companies around, I’ve had the unique opportunity to observe the best—and worst—ways to land that perfect position.
In a recent article by Managed Healthcare® Executive, they compiled seven networking tips for healthcare executives from industry-leading experts across the nation. Here are my favorites:
1. Attend professional events
“It’s important to be very selective about which to attend—I tend to focus on smaller conferences as venues for meeting people who are working hard to solve big problems,” says Gregory Makoul, PhD MS, founder and CEO, PatientWisdom, a digital technology company.
“Industry tradeshows, conferences, symposiums, and professional organization meetings are a great way to be in front of your target market in volume,” says George Tierney, COO/EVP, product development & marketing at SnapMD. “Everyone you want to be in front of is gathered at these events specifically to talk about their business.”
2. Online networking can lead to real-life help
“Following thought leaders online can broaden your understanding and make you better at your job,” says Leslie Snavely, chief digital officer, CHG Healthcare. “There are people I’ve connected and interacted with through LinkedIn or Twitter who I’ve later met at conferences or events. Those digital interactions led to real life relationships with people I can turn to when I need help or advice.”
Tierney agrees that combining online networking with face-to-face interaction is crucial. “The more methods you utilize to get in front of people, the more successful you will be,” says Tierney. “Networking is a game of numbers—with so many social media outlets available to you today, networking online is easier than ever and paramount to staying connected with important people in the healthcare industry.”
Publishing an article online, whether on LinkedIn or a trade publication, is another angle to online networking. “A LinkedIn article can generate engagement with other experts on the subject, former colleagues, and those simply interested in the topic,” says Grace Emerson Terrell, MD, MMM, FACP, FACPE, chief executive officer, Envision Genomics General Internist, Wake Forest Baptist Healthcare Cornerstone Internal Medicine. “It’s targeted networking in the sense that there’s a common issue, but it’s also broad since you never know who might share it with their own online network.”
3. Prepare for conversations then follow-up
“Check organizations’ websites, researching via Google or LinkedIn,” RoAne says. “Read any association journals and local and national newspapers. They have all the information, material, news, and highlights to prepare and familiarize. Then, follow up from a conversation via LinkedIn, association website, or email within three days. Savvy networks stay in touch.”
4. Join a collaborative
A collaborative enables executives from different organizations to work together and learn from their peers, according to Jerry Penso, MD, MBA, president and chief executive officer, AMGA, a trade association leading the transformation of healthcare in America. “In healthcare, we are all driving continuous improvement for our organizations but the reality is no one organization has all the answers,” Penso says. “Coming together in a shared learning environment drives us to explore innovative solutions, learn what has worked and apply proven best practices to our own organizations.”
If you’re ready to make a move, you need to network. And, because approximately 51% of executive searches are conducted confidentially, you also need the deep expertise from a healthcare executive search firm such as Buckman Enochs Coss and Associates. With more than 40 years of experience introducing the best healthcare companies with today’s most innovative leaders, we know how to assist you with your search. Give me a call today.
