The buzzword “transformation” is often high on the list of keywords executive recruiters and potential employers look for in a c-suite resume. The experience of successfully turning around and transforming underperforming organizations and business units is invaluable in executive leadership positions.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chances are high that you and your organization have some recent transformation experience under your belt. Whether your organization is big, small, PE-funded, or publicly traded, adapting to the pandemic has meant digital transformations, operational transformations, cost spend transformations, and brand transformations, among other things.
Almost anyone can now say they transformed their organization, but only 22% of organizations successfully transform themselves, according to a Harvard Business Review meta-analysis of financial performance and corporate reputation.* When it comes to your CxO resume and job transition, you can’t simply label yourself as a transformational leader—you must prove it.
Demonstrate Your Transformational Leadership Abilities
To prove your transformational successes on your CxO resume, identify accomplishments, metrics, and awards that demonstrate the following:
- Innovation & Intellectual Stimulation
- Thought Leadership
- Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Corporate Culture Change
- Rallying Employees Around a Vision
- Inclusive Vision, Motivation, & Influence
Traits that Highlight Transformational Expertise
On top of your impressive accomplishments and metrics, you’ll do well to describe your personality traits that empower your transformational success. The following characteristics are irresistible and will permeate throughout the entire organization.
- Intensity and drive for the vision
- Hopefulness and confidence for positive results
- Eager enjoyment and interest in relevant activities
- Wisdom and imagination for the corporate direction
- Inspire devotion in others
Combining these types of accomplishments and characteristics will describe your ability to challenge long-held perceptions and beliefs and detail your history of creating long-term, dynamic organizational change.
If you need help describing your transformational accomplishments and characteristics in your CxO resume, book a complimentary and confidential call with us here.
* Harvard Business Review. “The Secret Behind Successful Corporate Transformations“
