Some are galvanised: hotelier Rocco Forte's more than rebounded from losing the family business, creating an even stronger brand. But not every career disaster turns into a triumph. Why do some leaders make a recovery and others sink without trace? Remember John Sculley of Apple, Jeff Skilling of Enron, George Fisher of Kodak? Probably not, except as yesterday's men. Research by Harvard University finds that 40 per cent of failed CEOs disappear from the workforce altogether. So, if you've had a disaster, what are the main barriers to recovering your career?
Jeff Sonnenfeld, co-author of Firing Back-How Great Leaders Rebound After Career Disasters,comments: "First, there is the shame we feel over job loss-especially if we try to disguise what happened. There is also often a sense of rage over a perceived sense of betrayal by others that led to the situation, or a denial that it really happened. If a leader gets sucked into an emotional whirlpool, it is very hard to climb back out."
HOW TO BOUNCE BACK
• Fight not flight Face up to the reality of the situation. There are battles to restore your reputation and battles for revenge. Engage in the former and avoid the latter.
• Recruit others into battle Take responsibility for innocent colleagues who were affected by your downfall.
• Rebuild heroic stature Provide a rational explanation of any injustice and express genuine contrition for any mistakes.
• Prove your heroic mettle Regain trust by demonstrating that the setback has not destroyed your professional expertise.
• Discover a new heroic mission Don’t define yourself by your past success or failure. Move on and show a new leadership vision.
Source: Firing Back by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward
Robert Myatt, director of the business psychologists Kaisen, argues that there are personality traits that affect the ability to bounce back when things don't go to plan. "Some individuals are more vulnerable to adversity than others, so that under pressure they dramatise the situation, and feel they're losing control. On the whole, these people will get filtered out before they reach director level because they cannot cope with high levels of stress."
US research on 400 employees during the breakup of US telecoms utility the Bell System in the 1980s found that one-third of the group thrived during this stressful period, their resilience due to their attitude and the support they received from family and friends.
Myatt comments: "People who are less vulnerable to career earthquakes have many facets to their lives, with strong family links, social activities and hobbies. If something goes wrong in one area the others act as a buffer." When Dennis Healy lost the Labour Party leadership election in 1980, he could retreat into what his wife Edna called his "political hinterland", to spend more time with his family, photography, garden and fine wines.
Sonnenfeld points out that failure can be the source of new success. "No matter how dire the circumstances, triumphant comeback is possible. Even a spell in prison can enhance your career-look at Martha Stewart, Jeffrey Archer and Jonathan Aitken."
So what should you do to start bouncing back? Myatt advises to get out more-go to conferences to network and visit headhunters. "They will give you a positive picture of future opportunities, and help you to rebuild your confidence." He also suggests some self-reflection. "Think about why your career went wrong. Was there a mismatch, could you have prevented it, what are your main strengths. Then talk to close friends and family, get their suggestions and support."
Failure is a beginning, not an end, says Sonnenfeld. So, if your career has hit the buffers, pick yourself up, dust yourself down and join the comeback kids.
