Dealing with Problems and Crises: The Turnaround Pro

Abstract

Being a proven turnaround expert is one of the ways in which women can make their name and stand out from the crowd. Turnaround experts deal with urgent crisis situations that require immediate and drastic action. In these crisis situations, market share is plummeting fast, large sums of money are being lost every day, or customers are leaving the company in droves. While all assignments have to be executed with pace, turnaround projects are a step up from the more orderly and proactive organizational change assignments discussed in Chapter 10. Turnaround assignments demand an immediate stabilization of a situation and the demonstration of rapid results. They are a particular form of organizational change, and Slatter and colleagues refer to them as ‘radical short-term change which delivers fast financial gain’ (p. xii).¹

Women can be too earnest, which makes people uneasy. Don’t be too earnest but be brave about the moments where you feel passionate and go for it.

(Amanda MacKenzie, Group Marketing Director, Aviva)

You need to work out what you are really good at and have utter faith in it.

(Carolyn Fairbairn, Group Development and Strategy Director, ITV)