Not everyone experiences termination as a crisis. Some are relieved that a difficult career experience is over. Others understand that the decision was less a vote of no confidence than a product of political dynamics. Some even welcome the pink slip as an opportunity to explore career and life alternatives. The crisis reaction is a function of circumstances and personality. Let's break it down.

Managing the Crisis: Take a Mental Break

Many of the senior executives I work with are "Type A" personalities driven to fast action. But acting fast isn't always the best thing to do when a crisis occurs. So the same compulsion for quick action that helps the executive achieve success can become a problem during a crisis. It causes executives to re-enter the job market at less than their best with their mind clouded and lacking a coherent strategy.

Those suffering a career crisis would be better served by stepping back and taking time to gather their thoughts. Think about what went wrong and how things could have been handled differently. Consider visiting a relaxing locale or simply retreating from day-today activities to engage in relaxing activities. It is also good to use this time to establish a support structure - family, friends, as well as professional career coaches or counselors.

Reflection is healthy but not to the point of obsession. It's important to retain confidence and keep things in context. Don't let one bad situation overwhelm an otherwise terrific career. Above all, consider your next career step with great care.

Prepare for a Marathon

As for the process of finding a new position, be prepared for the long haul. Create a long-term search strategy, even while pursuing immediate opportunities that arise early in a transition. And don't panic if the right job hasn't emerged three months into your search. Keep in mind that the average job search for executives is 9 to 12 months.

When you're out of work you also need to organize your free time. You'll have more "down time" and you need to learn to use it to your best advantage-not just professionally but personally to reconnect with family, friends and yourself.

Conclusion

I wanted to get into building and executing a transition strategy, but I know how touchy Glenn is about long articles. So I'll stop here and wrap it up next week.

Wishing you career success and a happy Memorial Day,

Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet
www.execunet.com

VICTORIA'S SECRET


The Story of John Brown

John Brown holding Queen Victoria's horse

By Glenn Demby

Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. Canadians celebrate Victoria Day on the first Monday before May 25 of each year. One of the lesser known facts about Queen Victoria is that she had her own personal safety director. His name was John Brown and if you're a movie buff, you might know him by the 1997 film, Mrs. Brown, starring Dame Judi Dench as the Queen.

Brown was a servant to Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. After Albert's untimely death in 1861, Brown became Victoria's "personal attendant." Among his many chores, he was entrusted with the Queen's personal safety. In 1863, the Queen suffered minor injuries in a couple of carriage accidents. But it could have been much worse had Brown not been there to intervene. From that point on, Brown would ride everywhere the Queen did and look after her.

Queen Victoria and John Brown had a special relationship. Biographers suggest that Brown is the only person the Queen completely trusted. Although that's hard to prove, what is clear is that the Queen allowed Brown to take verbal liberties that no others would have dared. Onlookers would gasp when Brown barked orders to the Queen like sit down in the carriage and button up your shawl. But the Queen would meekly obey, knowing that Brown was just looking after her safety and health.

In his later years, Brown became something of an embarrassment to the court. There were persistent rumors of a romance between Brown and Victoria (completely untrue) and courtiers wanted Brown out. But the Queen would have none of it. Of Brown Victoria would say: "I feel I have a good and devoted soul in the house, whose only interest is my welfare. God knows how much I want to be taken care of."

And take care of her he would. Brown would remain by Queen Victoria's side until he died in 1883.

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