No matter where you start out at a company, there are opportunities for you to advance. You just have to be willing to work hard in order to achieve your goals. Here are some tips to help you climb the ladder of business management.
Make Yourself Irreplaceable
A large part of being able to get promoted is having someone to take over for you. So often, people are too good at what they do. The company may be unlikely to consider promoting you if someone else can’t do your job. Make yourself Irreplaceable so that you can move up. This may mean that you mentor someone else to help them build up their skill set. Delegate some of your tasks to other individuals in order to show your leadership skills.
Be Accountable and Authentic
Taking responsibility for your actions and those of your team can demonstrate your willingness to work hard for the company. Develop career goals and share them with your manager. This will let them know where your interests for development lie. Another important part of climbing the ladder is to develop allies in the company. Promotional opportunities tend to go to those that are well liked. Managers want to promote people that share their goals and values.
Get a High-Level Mentor
Just as you would mentor someone to take over your role, someone else may be looking for a replacement. Get to know some of the higher level executives. One of them may be willing to mentor you as a replacement for them. This gives you an opportunity to show your willingness to put the company first. It also gives you a chance to develop your skill set for the role. This can make you the logical chance for the one to be promoted. Developing this relationship can give you a voice in these promotional decisions.
Continue Your Education
One of the best ways to grow your skill set is to go back to school. Advancing your degree to the next level can make you more valuable to your industry. Consider getting a masters in business administration or another such degree to help you move up the corporate ladder. There may be other educational opportunities that you can take advantage of in order to get promoted. Technical certifications and skill building classes may help you get where you want to go.
So often the key to success in business is who you know. Develop a solid skill set, and cultivate relationships in order to aid the advancement of your career.
