FROM ROCK DRUMMER TO HEADHUNTER - An untraditional journey (2/2)

In my previous article, I told you about how I grew up devoting myself with great intensity to my studies while facing many prejudices because of my rebellious image. Facing prejudices became a battle I was ready to fight for the rest of my life. I wanted to demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that I could deviate from generally accepted standards while excelling in the various facets of my life.

I started my career in Toronto, where I lived for more than five years, working for Hewitt Associates (now Aon Hewitt), a major international consulting firm. I would later work for almost another five years at the company’s Montreal office. I adapted well to the daily reality of the working world. I felt good where I was and my performances were always top-notch.

I continued to apply the same recipe that had always served me well: a mixture of intensity, organization, and discipline. Another aspect related to appearances, however, was quick to cause me problems. I admit to having an eye for detail that verges on obsession. Today I acknowledge that I’m a control freak. Both at home and at the office, I like orderly and pure spaces. I hate to see things lying disorderly about, even if it’s an act of creativity. Some people are perfectly comfortable working at a desk where piles multiply in a happy mess. My brain simply isn’t made for that. I like to keep the surface of my desk as empty as possible.

This type of Zen environment is what suits me best. Despite the adequacy of my productivity and my performance, my superiors didn’t fail to make negative comments about how I didn’t seem to be very busy. This management of appearances was harming me, and it even made its way into my periodic evaluations, which were critical for me to advance within the organization. So I adopted the habit of making fake piles on my desk to give the impression of being busier. This ironic situation lasted throughout my years in the world of the actuarial field. This new form of prejudice annoyed me as much as the prejudice I suffered during my studies because of looking different. The same phenomenon continued when I became a senior executive at Averna, a hi-tech firm in Montreal. Although the working environment was far less formal than in the actuary world, the company founders and other colleagues often commented on the almost completely cleared surface of my desk. I had no choice but to explain myself and justify my actions. I had to wait until starting my career as a headhunter to finally organize my workspace according to my preferences without being on the receiving end of these subjective comments. As a partner and then Managing Partner at the Montreal office of international firm Odgers Berndtson, I was able to control this aspect that was important to me. Over the years, these experiences have made me even more aware of the need to manage my image. Today, as Managing Partner at Boyden, my authenticity and my professional image are almost entirely what I would like them to be.

When I worked at Averna, another situation opened my eyes to the importance of adapting one’s image while remaining authentic and true to oneself. In 2009, I found myself among the three Quebec finalists in the “Young Executive of the Year” category of the Arista contest. The caliber of my competition was high since the two other finalists were the General Director for Canada at GE Energy (Simon Olivier) and Vice President Finance of Pratt & Whitney Canada (John DiBert). Ultimately, the prize eluded me. To have made it that far was itself a great success for me, and I was proud to have earned that achievement in such a prestigious company. I met one of the members of the jury two years later. He confirmed to me that the decision had been tight. According to him, the way I presented myself during the interview had hurt my chances of finishing first.

“As vice president of a hi-tech company, I was dressed according to industry standards: casual but subtly chic. My clothes were upscale, but I wore a jacket over an open shirt without a tie. I had chosen to play the authentic card for the occasion, true to my values and those of my business. In reality, I had forgotten to follow codes that were specific to the business context I was presenting in. Despite my efforts, this was perceived as nonchalance.” 

I then realized that this relatively innocuous detail had probably cost me first prize. Not following certain codes is a personal choice, as long as one is fully aware of the impact it can have. There’s no use navigating an environment without having a good understanding of it. This experience with the Arista competition made something click for me. It made me think about notions of image and authenticity. I then realized that my eternal rebel quest was inevitably doomed to failure if I wanted to excel in the business world. Sometimes you have to resign yourself to the idea that, despite our best intentions, we can’t always succeed in changing the order of things. At that moment, I realized I’d have to take control of my image to maximize my impact and to act according to my full potential. To illustrate this, the example of “the river” is one of my favorites. I like to think that we go through life as if traveling down a river in a kayak. Paddling against the current or completely forgoing control are two approaches that never yield great results. You have to control your kayak by knowing how to give a solid paddle stroke in the right places and at the right times. 

Now it is time for you to ask yourself: are you an authentic person? In my next article, I will help you determine if you are truly authentic to yourself and if your actions are a reflection of your beliefs and values. It will be published over the upcoming week. Same place, same time, stay tuned! 

Did you like this article? Discover my most recent publications:

• The first impression
• From rock drummer to head hunter - An untraditional journey - Part 1

Tired of reading ? Listen to the song "it's going To Be A Long Night' from Cosmos Vives the album I recorded with DJ Mister Smith: