Own Your Story, Build Your Leverage

"Why did you leave?

Four words that make even seasoned executives sweat.

Even as a (mostly) objective confidant for thousands of executives, I've had to pull on my best mud boots to trudge through the sticky situations leaders delicately try to explain when looking for their next opportunity.

Sometimes, you're frustrated with hostile working conditions.

Sometimes, the performance expectations are untenable.

Sometimes, you are the one who created hostile working conditions and untenable expectations, and you're running from your self-inflicted mess.

Sometimes, it's just time.

Then there are the times when non-performance factors come into play, such as a spouse taking a new role or a lifestyle change to live closer to family. Babies, children's education, work visas, restructurings, aging parents, sabbaticals—you name it.

Either way, organizations and executives fall out of alignment all the time.

So why is it so hard to answer questions about why you want to leave or why your last role didn't …