As a manager or executive, you story should highlight professional experiences you have had that demonstrate the following four (4) elements:
· Profit Generation
· Strategy & Execution
· Business Development
· Leading People
Profit Generation
All managerial roles in one way or another involve contributing the organizations bottom line. You can do that through driving revenue or managing costs. As you evaluate you professional experiences, you should focus upon areas where you have demonstrated the ability to contribute to the organizations profitability. Experiences might include:
· Profit & Loss responsibility for a division or project
· Instances where you have driven earnings growth over an extended period of time
· Periods where you have seen margin expansion
· Situations where you have managed and controlled costs
· New profit streams that you have developed
Strategy & Execution
Organizations want to know that their managers and executives can both develop strategy and manage the execution of that strategy to successful outcomes. You want to highlight experiences that demonstrate this capability such as:
· Projects or divisions you have managed
· Implementations of corporate strategy
· Situations where you have turned-around a poorly performing unit
· Development of new strategies for an operating unit
· Strategic alliances that you have developed
· New product developments
Business Development
Organizations thrive on their ability to increase their presence in their respective markets over time. This is done by developing new customers / clients AND keeping and growing existing customer / client relationships. Managers and executives that have a proven track record in developing this business will be coveted within the organization. Business development experiences can take many forms including:
· Sales growth
· Partnership development
· Customer / client development
· Relationship management
Leading People
Whether the business is a product or service business, people are critical. Apple is a product company, but its people are the reason that it continues to innovate and build share. Organization want managers and executives that cannot only execute but also can recruit and develop talent within the organization. As you build your personal story, you want to highlight instances where you have:
· Manage project teams
· Developed leaders within the organization
· Participated in attracting talent to the organization
See more advice on Crafting Your Story: