"Superpower" - Not Bravado to Use That Term, At Least in Entrepreneurial Contexts and Maybe That Could Seep into Establishment Talk

On Fishbowl Startups, an unemployed senior product manager asks for guidance in landing work - any kind. Yes, it's tough out there for White Collars, even in the buzzy world of entrepreneurship.

One responder asks:

 " ... what’s your superpower?"

And that could open the door to the emerging mindset in hiring. Shift from positioning and packaging yourself as having an "edge" to a more aggressive/results-driven track record for "superpowering" in your niche. 

Miracles are expected. And the delivery of them must be fast. 

That's exactly why the tenure of CEOs is shrinking. According to Korn Ferry it's down 14% since 2016. At Disney Bob Chapek got the boot before being in the job three years. At X, new CEO Linda Yaccarino could be on short time because her messaging lacks credibility and confidence. 

In contrast, those leaders who are resetting their organizations for extreme success, despite the external realities, are role models for what goes into "superpower." The obvious example is newly contracted chair at law firm Paul, Weiss Brad Karp. 

Voted back in by the partners in May 2023, Karp has disrupted the firm and with it the legal sector. The superpower moves range from three bold talent raids on competitor Kirkland & Ellis to grabbing bigger pieces of the shrunken M&A business. The shift is so amazing that I have recommended to him to also disrupt his mode of leadership rhetoric. Make it more 2023 high wattage. 

Take a look at LinkedIn and that bears witness that there is no limit on self-promotion. You have to be so out-there. Recommendation: Create an experiment. Tailor one set of job-search materials with the usual language. Put together another with a bolder aka superpower snapshot of your results-driven performance. Measure the outcomes of each.

In most cases you have only one shot in communications. Jane Genova is a communications coach and content-creator. Complimentary consultation (please text 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com) 



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