Moving On Up: 5 Secrets From The C-Suite

Always seek self-improvement opportunities. Dale Carnegie, Toast Masters, education, seminars, webinars, certifications,etc. Make sure you take advantage of all the opportunities you can. Sometimes the best self-improvement is just practicing what you know!  Make sure your boss knows you are part of these organizations, and that your participation is noted in your annual review process.
Key: Keep your skills fresh, keep growing, be able to point to where you stepped out and up to improve yourself. 

Be willing to change jobs. Interview for jobs that are posted externally for your organization. Be willing to leave your organization for a better fit someplace else. Don’t job hop, but rather stay long enough to show solid value. Always, always, always be able to show how you continued to grow and move up. This is a really important aspect of your resume, the interviews and your networking; being able to demonstrate how you moved up and accepted more responsibility.
Key: Don’t be afraid to take a lateral job with an organization that has more advancement opportunity.   Always know what your next job is going to be. Make sure your job history tells a good “story”  of moving up and gaining more responsibility.  

Focus on the critical skills of writing, presenting & speaking, and organizing. A little self-awareness goes a very long way, so be honest with your self about what you do need to improve. Some of the best advice I have ever been given has been in response to me asking “how do you think I did?”. Make sure you ask people who will be honest with you, and not just tell you what you want to hear. Communication skills are paramount if you want to move up in the organization. Practice them and sharpen them.
Key: Be realistic about your skills and ask for constructive and critical feedback. Never ever miss an opportunity to present or speak in front of a group.   

Know what kind of leader you are. If your organization provides a 360 degree feedback instrument, use it! Find out your Myers-Briggs type. Study leadership from the academic & professional angles. The most important thing is to know what you believe about leadership and be willing to tell people what you believe. If they believe the same things, they will follow you anywhere!  Don’t tell them your plan for success. Tell them what you believe. Watch the Simon Sinek “Golden Circle” TED talk in YouTube, and you will see what I mean.
Key: Know what you believe. Be consistent, and don’t miss an opportunity to discuss your beliefs.