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What Really Drives Executive Success?

From Landing the Role to Leading at Scale
Welcome to our Executive Performance Study | Fall 2026

Earlier this year Close Collins (formerly Close Cohen) surveyed 104 professionals to examine the realities of executive career transitions. The resulting research challenged conventional assumptions about how senior professionals advance.

Now we're taking that research further:

We're examining what drives performance across three critical dimensions:

1. Securing the right opportunities,

2. Succeeding in executive leadership and

3. Locking in team performance.

Whether you're exploring your next move or leading an established organization, your perspective will help us distinguish what actually works from what conventional wisdom tells us should work.

🎁 A Thank-You Gift, complete the survey and receive a complimentary invitation to our 2027 Executive Negotiation Strategy Seminar, featuring a distinguished Wall Street C-suite leader.

Thank you for contributing to the next chapter of our research.

1. What is your current level?

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F

2. Which best describes your current situation? *select all that apply

3. What outcome at work matters most to you in the next 12 mos?

4. How are you currently using AI in your work or career?

5. Which job search tactics have you used in the last 12 months?

*select all that apply.

Other:

6. Which tactic generated your highest-quality leads? (select one)

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Other:

7a. What percentage of your interviews advance to the next round?

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7b. What percentage of your interviews result in a final offer?

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8. What is the biggest failure point in your current search?

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Other:

9. Approximately how much of your work week is spent on each of the following?

*select one per row
Little to none
Medium
Significant Amount
Strategic Work
Talent Leadership
Stakeholder Management
Operations/Firefighting
Administrative Work

10. What is currently limiting your effectiveness the most?

*select all that apply

Other:

11. Who gives you the most valuable feedback about your leadership?

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Already half-way 🎉 50% of the survey completed!

12. How long did it take you to feel fully effective after your last promotion or role change?

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13. How Confident are you that your team could accurately describe your top three priorities?

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14. Which of the following has had the greatest positive impact on your team's performance?

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Other:

15. What most slows your leadership team?

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16. Thanks for being a part of our journey! Please leave your Name and Email here so we can send your complimentary pass to our 2027 Negotiation strategy seminar, featuring an exciting C-Suite expert. 🚀

Email Address

Name:

17. Last thing 🙏 Would you be open to a 20-minute follow-up interview to share more about your experience?

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