Four Tips to Climb the Corporate Ladder
Elaine Varelas offers advice on climbing the corporate ladder.
Q. It has been a few years since my last promotion and I worry that my upward trajectory has come to a halt. I’ve been told I am doing great work in my current position and I would like to continue moving up in the company. What can I do to make that happen?A.
Promotions and new titles at the same company, typically coupled with more money and new responsibilities, are not the only way to gain upward mobility at a company. Many organizations are working toward flatter, broader organizations with resulting in fewer grade levels and traditional promotions.
The current view on moving ahead at your company is based on new stretch projects, additional responsibilities and opportunities to lead colleagues and cross-functional teams. Rather than being told what to do, rising employees are told about the outcomes needed and given latitude to make it happen. When you demonstrate success, you receive more responsibility and sometimes, a promotion happens.
As you look at your situation, is it the promotion you want? Or a better role? As you become more senior in organizations, expectations increase, but titles don’t follow suit. Many professionals’ upward trajectory stalls out at some point during their career. Usually this is because it becomes more and more difficult to move higher within an organization. There is plenty of room for growth at the beginning of a career, but fewer opportunities after your first couple of promotions. Do not be discouraged. Here is a list of the top four things to do when climbing the corporate ladder.
- Actively learn new skills. Many professionals struggle to grow during the middle of their career because they have stopped learning. Don’t settle into a routine and lose focus on making yourself more valuable. It is your job to challenge yourself and grow, not the job of your manager. The expectation is you will excel in your current role, and that is not enough to move up. Generate opportunity to learn – get new certifications that are applicable to your industry. Use your professional association to develop skills, and use these newly developed skills in the execution of your responsibilities.
- Show visible energy and take initiative. You excel at your current area of expertise. That needs to be first. But what else needs to be done? If you see the opportunity to enhance a part of the organization, develop a plan. Approach your manager with a draft plan, and discuss your thoughts and the impact you can have. Take on additional projects, particularly if they involve cross-functional, diverse teams. Your exposure to more people, colleagues and those more senior to you, increases the odds you have of being discussed as an ideal candidate when a promotion is available.
- Seek feedback, hear it and incorporate the feedback to enhance your capabilities. Most feedback is not about the job you do, but how you do your job. Everyone wants good feedback. Learn to give that to yourself. When you get positive feedback, enjoy it, but try not to be needy for it. Listen carefully to what you need to do differently, and understand why. Practice those skills and replay examples of changes you have made to your manager. Any promotion you want will not occur unless this happens.
- Have a roadmap. Lay out your goals and the steps you will take in order to reach them. Ask and understand what skills and competencies you need to get ahead and build these into your plan. Be aware of the many side roads and dead ends that you might see. Some might look very attractive and have nothing to do with your goals. Other paths will look challenging, but maybe not instantly rewarding. Take the time to talk to your manager about what’s around the corner. While the reward of more pay, or a higher status is tempting, make sure that the move makes sense in the long term—and that it leads to the destination on your road map.
Climbing the corporate ladder will be challenging, especially mid-career. Focus on continuing to be a better employee, taking initiative, and analyzing every step along your career pathway. Promotions come in many ways, and good luck in getting the version you want.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com