Toronto Transit Commission chairman and city councillor Adam Giambrone was on the career fast track before he derailed himself this week. But whether it's a bid for the mayor's seat or any other big job that is stopped short by a personal indiscretion or misdeed, it takes more than an 'I'm sorry' to get a career back on track, career pros say. In fact, handled right, the effort to recover can result not only in a career rebirth but even a long-term boost. Wallace Immen reports on lessons to be learned from Mr. Giambrone's experience.
Former Toronto mayoral hopeful Adam Giambrone and his long-time partner, Sarah McQuarrie.
Come clean |
What to do
- The first step to rebuilding trust requires an unequivocal public confession and a sincere apology. (Giambrone's statement )
- Mr. Giambrone took that right initial step this week by publicly admitting his affairs, taking responsibility for his actions, and saying "I humbly apologize," says Bruce Sandy, principal of Pathfinder Coaching & Consulting in Vancouver. He also made another right move, Mr. Sandy says, by publicly acknowledging all of the parties who may have been affected by his actions.
The effect
- "Apology doesn't wash away the stain, but it does give you a fresher start with people who will be judging you," Mr. Sandy says.
- How long it takes to rebuild shattered trust depends on the level of forgiveness of the people who feel they've been wronged. "Healing takes time - often months or years," he says. "People will want to see you are sticking to your word because trust has been eroded. To speed up the process of regaining trust, publicly state you have learned from your misdeeds and vow to never make the same mistake again."
Commit to change |
What to do
- Make visible efforts to reform. That could mean keeping yourself out of harm's way by, for instance, changing work schedules to eliminate temptation or a compromising situation, Mr. Sandy says.
- Keeping a vow to reform will often require professional help to modify long-standing behaviour not easily changed by willpower alone, Mr. Sandy says.
- In a recent high-profile example, Tiger Woods enrolled in a sex-addiction rehabilitation program after his indiscretions became public last year.
The effect
- Showing efforts to modify the behaviour that got you into trouble will demonstrate to others that you realize you have a problem and are living up to your word by seriously working to make permanent changes, Mr. Sandy says.
- "You are sure to be under increased public scrutiny after you have made a big mistake or committed an indiscretion, so you need to ensure that you don't create any impression that revives any ghost of the past problem."
Focus on your work |
TTC chairman Adam Giambrone speaks to reporters and customers at Queen Street station in Toronto on Monday, August 27, 2007.
What to do
- Throw yourself into your work, suggests Ildi Wiley, and president of Results Continuum Inc. in Jordan, Ont., demonstrating it's the priority. Volunteering to make presentations on what you've learned from your mistakes to professional groups is another way to put your work to your benefit, she says.
The effect
- Shifting attention from your misdeeds to current accomplishments and future achievements will help to make the incident that got you into trouble fade from the minds of managers and co-workers, Ms. Wiley says.
- "Recommitting to your job will demonstrate you are a person who learns from mistakes. People need to see that you are moving beyond the incident and committed to being effective and doing the best job possible."
- In fact, it can even revitalize your career, she says, pointing to former U.S. president Bill Clinton who has since "dedicated himself to humanitarian work ...and huge audiences are now paying to hear him speak."
Become self-aware |
