Working World - Career Transition

By: Barbara Bowes
Date: December 12, 2009

You've been toiling hard for years -- working, studying, working and studying -- all with the goal of someday being recognized and promoted to a coveted leadership role within your organization. However, the days of simply paying your dues as a precursor to promotion are gone; in other words, time alone will not guarantee a promotion.

In other situations, many individuals who perceive themselves to be ready for promotion are often overlooked because the boss doesn't believe they have what it takes. The result is that many employees feel stymied in their efforts to get ahead in their career with their current employer. This leaves a couple of choices. For instance, you can leave your employer for another opportunity, you can stay where you are and hope for the best or you can take steps to ensure that your boss does see you as having what it takes.

Leadership in organizations today is quite different than it was many years ago. With senior level jobs being more competitive than ever, getting ahead and moving into a leadership role takes good career planning, a continual search for opportunities to become a known entity, a willingness to take calculated risks, and a good dose of political know-how. Here are a few tips to help move things along:

Stay current - You can demonstrate your value by continuing to keep on top of whatever technical or professional skills you have. Attend professional conferences and workshops. Register for courses that would give you the latest knowledge not just for your current job but for the leadership job you are seeking. Become the expert, the "go-to" person.

Accurate self-insight - Amazing as it is, most people do not have an accurate assessment of their own personality or capabilities. In some cases, people overinflate their expertise while others undervalue their talents and accomplishments. Be sure to undertake a self-examination so that you truly do understand your own personality traits, your strengths and areas of challenge and how you relate to others. Hire an executive coach to help you see yourself clearly.

Ensure the right attitude - Being promoted into a leadership position requires the right attitude. This isn't just some power trip with the goal of having more control in your organization. Being a leader requires you to influence others before you ever control them. People will see right through an attitude of "power" and you will never be able to gain credibility.

Take on extra responsibilities - While a leadership promotion might not be available to you right now, there are many additional tasks or duties that you can take on that will build your portfolio of skills and ensure a higher visibility within the organization. Volunteer to lead a special project or volunteer to sit on various committees. However, be sure never to neglect the key aspects of your own job by taking on too much.

Make friends at higher levels - Seek out ways in which you can get closer to a senior manager from whom you can learn. Ask if this individual would act as a mentor. Find ways to assist this person with some of their own work challenges. Brainstorm on how you can develop strategic relationships with numerous people in your organization so that you a well-known entity. Make a name for yourself.

Increase your business acumen - Strong leaders have a broader view of an organization and are able to understand how their department and/or company fits into the bigger picture. To develop this strength you need to be involved in strategic planning, diagnosing business strengths and weaknesses, confirming key issues and discovering creative ways to lead the organization towards its goals.

Drive for results - No matter what, you have to do your own job well. Set assertive stretch goals for yourself. Don't be afraid to do a bit of bragging when you have reached your goals. Always discuss your goals with your current boss and ensure these goals fit into the big picture.

Put on a game face - No matter how nervous you might feel, you cannot show it. Self-confidence is the name of the game. Assertiveness is the power that will move you ahead. Hold your head high and keep that smile on your face. Walk with confidence, talk with confidence.

Learn and apply political know-how -- Being successful at a senior level is all about influence, knowing how decisions are made in an organization and being able to set the agenda and make things happen. Study your organizational power grid and learn to recognize and be able to work within the political and social dynamics. Teach yourself to read people and the environment around you. Learn to understand and work with everyone's communication and personality style.

Improve your interpersonal effectiveness - Good leaders are also good listeners and communicators. They know how to listen and how to be effective at raising questions. They are skilled facilitators who can ensure everyone's voice is heard, yet at the same time can cut through the noise and isolate the issues clearly. Teach yourself to be a good listener, restate what you hear so that people know you are really listening. Learn to express yourself in clear and compelling manner; give your colleague's equal floor time during a discussion.

Dress for your next step on the career ladder - Image is everything and so successful leaders dress for success. They stand tall and look the part. Thus it is important that you convey the image of a leader. You do this through your dress, your demeanour, your language, your tone of voice and your every day behaviour. Take to heart that old saying, "if you walk like a duck, talk like a duck and think like a duck, people will think you are a duck."

While leadership talent is a significant concern for most organizations today, the path to these important roles is no longer paved simply with seniority or paying your dues. New leaders need to demonstrate a much broader level of skills, they must be influencers who can create collaborative relationships, deal with complex issues quickly and drive the organization towards its results. So, rather than waiting for your promotion, create a career path that allows you to build the skills for tomorrow.

Source: Grow Your own Leaders, How to identify, Develop and Retain Leadership Talent, William C. Byham, Audrey B. Smith and Matthew J. Paese, Prentice Hall, 2002.

Barbara J. Bowes is president of Legacy Bowes Group, a leading HR firm. She is also host of a radio show, BowesKnows and author of several books. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .