For many professionals with their eye on the c-suite, the very first promotion into a management position is a cause for celebration. It can take years for workers to accrue the experience required to excel in a position of leadership, and that first job title that includes “supervisor” or “manager” can feel hard-won.
Still, a low-level management position is not exactly what most professionals dream of as the pinnacle of their careers. High-level business leadership comes with much more opportunity to influence the direction of business strategy and the culture of the workplace; while managers certainly have authority over their team of workers, business leaders have the power to make a large and lasting impact on an organization.
Moving from management into roles of key business leadership — with titles that include “director,” “executive” and “president” — can be as challenging as securing that first management job. Here are a few tips for avoiding complacency and continuing to move up the career ladder.
Clarify Your Vision
Business leaders know what they want from their teams; they know where they want their organization to go, and they know what they and their staff need to do to achieve it. Though managers might have less control over business strategy, they can help focus the minds, hearts and energy of the employees, ensuring that a company conserves its time, money and brainpower and marches organized toward success.
Likewise, managers should clarify their own vision for their careers. There is a difference between imagining oneself in a more authoritative position within an organization and knowing exactly which executive role one is aiming for and what steps one will take to get there. Though a manager should be prepared to pivot on their career path, they should also gain motivation and direction with clarified goals.
Communicate
Communication is easily the most important skill for any worker in any organization, but especially for a manager hoping to move up to higher levels of leadership. Managers need to be effective in communicating goals and rules to their team members below, and they need to be confident and capable in communicating progress and results to higher business leaders. It is essential to remove deleterious communication habits, like slang and gossip, and to develop poise in any communication situation. Managers can practice their communication skills every day, inside and outside the business environment.
Seek out Knowledge
Business leaders constantly face new and difficult challenges, and they need to be prepared with the knowledge and insight to overcome them. While working in industry can provide ample experience, there is benefit to continuing to engage with formal education throughout one’s career. The classroom offers a safe and secure space to experiment with ideas and practice skills without jeopardizing company or career success. Managers can find leadership courses from top universities to improve their knowledge base as they climb their career ladder.
Grow a Network
Sometimes, earning a position with more authority is as much who one knows as what one knows. Managers should consistently work to expand their professional networks by attending workplace events, industry conferences, local professional meetups and more. Managers can participate in career development programs within their organization, like mentorship or shadowing opportunities, to connect with high-level leaders in their field. Even school courses are opportune spaces for connecting with current and future business leaders. A strong network is a powerful tool for career success.
Set an Example
Business leaders function as role models for the rest of their organization. Employees and lower-level managers look to the executives in charge for cues on how to behave while on the clock. Managers should strive to mirror the behavior they see from higher-level leaders and set an example for their teams in terms of attitude, work ethic, clothing style and more.
Measure Results
It is difficult to understand the success or failure of an endeavor without quantifiable results. Managers should keep careful records of the projects they oversee and measure what they can to demonstrate their value to their organization. When a manager can use numbers, like metrics for workforce attitudes or increasing sales figures, to demonstrate their positive impact on the workplace, they are better equipped to move into higher levels of business leadership.
For most professionals, low-level management is the first step to reaching high-level executive success. By taking the right action before and after reaching a management position, professionals can continue to make important moves in their careers and reach the high-level business leadership roles of their dreams.
Also Read: Leadership development strategies for the female professionals
