Walk into any bookstore and you’ll find shelves groaning under the weight of books written by high-profile people extolling the secrets of their success. But you would have to look a bit harder to find any that dwell on failure — and even longer to uncover one that devotes itself entirely to fighting your way back from a career meltdown.

Such a book does exist, however. It is called Firing Back: How great leaders rebound after career disasters. Authors Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward not only showcase those who have succeeded in rescuing their careers but also identify why others have failed to stage a comeback. The authors offer sound advice on how to manage a recovery.

So, why are some able to rise, phoenix-like, from the ashes of a major professional setback while others simply fade away? Some bounce back as if nothing had happened; Martha Stewart’s expanded retail and media reach since her jail time for insider trading is a good example. A few use their notoriety to establish career highs even loftier than before their decline; think of Donald Trump today, owning half of the Empire State Building as well as the world’s tallest residential building, Trump Tower — not to mention his inordinately popular TV show, The Apprentice — only a few years after declaring bankruptcy. Yet others virtually disappear from sight; where is televangelist Jimmy Swaggert these days, anyway?

Sonnenfeld and Ward have done a scholarly job of researching this phenomenon and identifying a number of barriers to recovery. Understanding these barriers is key to fighting back:

> Societal Barriers. When superstar performers start to believe their own press and think themselves invincible, they are totally unprepared for failure. Additionally, the stigma of failure in our hero-worshipping society prompts once-doting admirers to withdraw their support, as if failure were contagious and they somehow might be infected.

> Corporate Culture Barriers. Some organizations (labelled in the book as “baseball teams”) value specialized talent and celebrity. Workers are expected to turn over frequently, so bouncing back is often simply a matter of finding another team that has an immediate need for similar professional skills. Other firms, in contrast, have a “fortress” culture that works to protect the company at all costs. In that case, a siege mentality takes hold if the organization falters and high-profile leaders are often sacrificed to comfort stakeholders that the integrity of the organization is preserved.

> Reputational Barriers. The underlying reputation of the “offender” has much to do with whether or not certain behaviours make recovery possible. Actor Hugh Grant, for instance, has been able to survive the accusations of sexual misconduct, whereas singer Michael Jackson isn’t doing nearly as well. In the business world, accounting irregularities and fraud are dealt with swiftly, while poor corporate performance is often tolerated too long.

> Psychological Barriers. People in high places derive a substantial portion of their personal identity from their careers. A loss of heroic stature is often accompanied by debilitating self-doubt, depression and loss of energy, which can manifest into denial, anger and raging feuds with past adversaries.

The book describes a number of other barriers to the revitalization of a life. However, the larger question is: “Is it possible to rescue your career and restore your reputation after a major professional setback?” The answer is “yes” and the authors prescribe a five-step recovery process:

1. Fight, Not Flight. Face the difficult situation.

2. Recruit Others Into Battle. Enlist the right assistance.

3. Rebuild Heroic Stature. Factually tell your own side of the story, even if it doesn’t reflect well.

4. Prove Your Mettle. Regain trust and credibility.

5. Rediscover The Heroic Mission. Clear the past and chart the future.

Firing Back is a corporate voyeur’s delight, packed with engrossing stories and first-hand accounts from humbled CEOs and executives. At the same time, it offers lessons to anyone in a position of authority or prominence on how to mitigate the risk of a professional setback. And, should you be struck by such misfortune, the book outlines a plan for recovery and reclamation of lost prestige and reputation.

Firing Back takes an academic approach — not surprising, given that it is published by Harvard Business School Press — yet it is one of the most engaging books I have read recently. IE

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