Recent Articles

Let’s meet in-person – why it makes all the difference!

In today's digital age, where virtual connections and online platforms dominate our social and professional interactions, it's easy to overlook the value of in-person networking. However, despite the convenience and reach of online networking, there are still compelling reasons why face-to-face interactions remain essential for personal and professional growth.First and foremost, in-person networking allows for genuine and authentic connections. That’s an experience that I keep making again and again. Meeting someone in real life enables us to pick up on subtle cues such as body lang

Updated 2 years ago

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You, I, we all work too much!

Let’s talk about something we all face. There is just so much to be done! As the world becomes more complex and competitive, the workload of people in leading positions – and all positions for that matter – continues to increase. Whether you are a CEO, manager, or team leader, etc., the demands on your time and attention can be overwhelming. Let’s explore why workload increases for people in leading positions and what can be done to deal with it.How did we get here?There are several reasons. One of the primary reasons is that as organizations grow and become m

Updated 2 years ago

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Let’s talk about lifelong learning… and AI

I’m sure you’ve read quite some things about ChatGPT and all that. And maybe you’re even a bit tired of it? Let me give you a break – not quite yet! In today's rapidly changing business landscape, companies that want to stay competitive must embrace life-long learning, right? The importance of continuous education cannot be overstated. And that brings me to the point: especially when it comes to understanding emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), C-level executives and board members must stay informed and educated – which is, quite frankly, easier said than done.<p

Updated 3 years ago

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The dying wish for a career – can we dig out the generation contract?

I recently read an article written by a young woman, explaining why she didn’t strive for a career. Why indeed she thought we should stop working altogether and enjoy some unemployment. Of course the article was probably meant to ruffle some feathers but it got me thinking: Do we actually still have something of a "generation contract"?What contract do generations have?The "generation contract" is a concept that refers to the social and economic expectations and obligations that exist between different generations. It is a kind of unwritten agreement between d

Updated 3 years ago

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Money, money, money – why don’t we just pay people more?!

As an executive search consultant, I look at salaries in from many different angles. Especially lately with the ever-tightening candidate market and increasing difficulties filling positions, it seems to be fair game in the salary expectations. But there’s more to it – and there’s economic realities – something that concerns us all! Such as these:Salaries are on the rise – and dropA recent economic outlook by OECD showed how much real wages are declining in relation to inflation in the different OECD countries. Between the beginning of July and the

Updated 3 years ago

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Executive Search trends for 2023

If you ask me to characterize 2022 with just one word, I’ll go with “extreme”. And perhaps “uncertain”. Aftermath of the pandemic, rampant inflation, raging war – all of those are factors that are changing and influencing the business climate keeping the race for hiring senior talent remain extremely strong. Now, as another challenging year is coming to its end, let’s take a look at where current trends lay and what the important takeaways for the upcoming (hopefully less challenging or at least more certain) year are.Retirement wave and post-pandemic supply shorta

Updated 3 years ago

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Are job ads dead?

We are fortunate to navigate an industry of major growth! So far so good. Growth, innovation and disruption call for a great number of talented people and some fine leadership to be able to keep up. And you might have noticed, times are changing. The job market is not an easy beast to tame, nor is it a calm pond, where every swing of a fishing rod gets you the exact fish you need. The process involves sifting through multitudes of candidates in order to understand thoroughly where objectives and expectations of both - a client and a candidate - align. It means identifying, targeting, assess

Updated 3 years ago

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Taking a stroll with my customer avatar

Whoever has been dealing with storytelling in the context of strategic communication, has probably been introduced to the customer avatar. The ideal customer, the one person that represents the mass of people you want and need to talk to. Whatever need it is you’re addressing, it can be the ideal candidate, the perfect visitor to your store, the one person that really needs your product, the avatar is that in one person.&nbsp;It may seem a bit odd to assimilate a vast number of people in one Steven, Christian or Beth to the address, but it also has something of a calming notio

Updated 3 years ago

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What comes after the great resignation? A service-free-zone?

I’m sure you’ve heard some talk about the severe talent shortage and its consequences in basically all industries. Just recently you could easily observe it compressed in the situations at the airports. Not enough staff anywhere to remotely conquer the task of having as many travelers on their way into summer vacation as there were. How are you supposed to handle all the bags, when there are not enough people to pick them up, carry them around, deliver them. How are you supposed to have planes on time or take off at all when there are not enough pilots to fly them, ground personnel to guide

Updated 3 years ago

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You’re an executive? It’s likely you need to up your Social Media Game

Social media are fun! All those innumerous interesting articles from all sorts of know-it-all gurus, endless stunning photos of last night meals from breakthrough influencers, tons of memes that will make your belly hurt for how hard you laugh. Just pure joy in your stress-free life!Let’s dial back the sarcasm and get to the point: you shouldn’t forget that social media have become one of the most powerful brand-building tools in the current day and age. Why? Because social media essentially offer dialogue directly with your audience. But not only that. Thanks to the Linke

Updated 3 years ago

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Who's behind the Blog

Stephan Breitfeld

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