Knowing What’s the Next Step in Your Career

Even top executives – those steering companies from the corner office – aren’t immune to the harsh realities of the modern workplace. Many find themselves bracing for a potential layoff…or already caught in one.

And here’s the unfortunate truth: it rarely has anything to do with talent or track record. It’s the nature of the org chart – being at the top means there’s less room. Too often, executives neglect to pause and reflect on what truly drives them. Instead, they follow the momentum of their careers—until a layoff forces a sudden stop. That’s why the unprepared feel the shock so acutely.

The difference between weathering a layoff and being blindsided by it often comes down to one thing: preparation. As executive career strategist Stacie Haller put it in a recent Q&A, “When life brings this to you, you get to take a breather and think about it. What are your skills? What do you want to do next? Without that clarity, you can’t really have a job search that will make you happy.”

Don’t wait for a layoff to make you ask the hard questions. Watch Stacie discuss the importance of executives gaining clarity, redefining their path, and navigating career transitions with confidence in this excerpt from the Q&A.