I was having lunch with a good friend of mine who was talking about acquiring a new startup company.

When I asked him if there was any overlap in duties, he responded "Well, at the CEO level yes, but we're going to put the new CEO into a 'special consulting' role going forward."

There are lots of ways to be shown the door as an executive.  Being given a meaningless, bad title is the weapon of choice for acquiring companies.

If you've been given or about to be given any of the following titles, it's time to start shopping for your next gig:

Chief People Officer.  A great way to keep the C-level title and strip any real responsibility is with a new title like "Chief People Officer." 

You were probably told by the smiling exec's that because you're so close to the culture of the company, it's critical that you focus your efforts there in order to grow.

Bullshit.  What that means is, that they are afraid after you leave that there might be a mass exodus, so they need you to keep people appeased and happy until they can find a way to kick your ass out the door.

Special Projects Consultant.  When is the last time you saw an executive being hailed on the cover of Forbes as the most incredible "Special Projects Consultant?"  You don't. 

The place for that title is on the last line of your updated resume when being viewed by recruiters on Monster.

What is missing here are any specific responsibilities as well as the inclusion of two terms that you don't want - "special" and "consultant."  They are euphemisms for telling you that you don't really matter.

Chairman.  Wow, now that sounds like a sweet title, right?  Chairman of the Board probably makes you think of a guy who's running the show. 

Chairman roughly translates to "the greatest functional title with no functional role possible."  It's supposedly a leg up from the CEO, but it's effectively a way to put you to pasture without anyone (including you) noticing. 

What they fail to mention to you is that the CEO doesn't really have to report to you on anything meaningful, which leaves you with power over, uh, nothing.

Anything with "Strategy" in it.  Try replacing the world "strategy" with "I'm about to get fired."

Here is how your new title now reads "Senior Vice President of I'm About to Get Fired".  Boy, that might not even fit on your new business card, but it won't matter, because you won't be around long enough to hand one out.

This positions sucks twice.  On the one hand really big companies that actually need someone for this role would never arbitrarily put someone in to run strategy unless they were on their way "up." 

On the other hand if the company isn't big enough to have an entire department dedicated to strategy, why would they give that role to you, and not the CEO?  Did they determine they needed a CEO with no ability to form a strategy?  That role already went to the COO.

BONUS: The Dotted Line Org Chart.  This isn't a title at all, but being given a dotted line on the org chart is like being thrown a life preserver with a frayed rope.  It looks like it could hold you but it's bound to break with your fat ass on it.