Not everyone has ambitions to climb the career ladder, but for those of you that do here are 13 top tips from me:
Love your job and be the very best you can be.
Regardless of what the job is, or the tasks you have to perform, look beyond the fact you might be data inputting, making telephone calls, filing or whatever. See if there is an opportunity for learning more, refining/ improving a system, adding value to your team, your company or a customer.
If you realize that your position is important to the business, then you will grow to be well-respected and indispensable.
Promote your achievements, be proud.
In some companies you may be a small fish in a big pond, you may want to be noticed beyond your Manager or department and so you should. So let people know what you have achieved, what improvements were your ideas. Make sure that this is internal and external (i.e. on your CV, LinkedIn or Xing profile, Twitter, Facebook, etc.)
Socialise and be seen with the right people
This may sound a little cliché, however, in most businesses the owners/ managers/ directors know who are the achievers/ drivers, the happy where I am’s and the it’s just a job brigade. If you want to really climb the corporate ladder make sure you are seen with the right people. God forbid you want to be seen with the BMWs (Bitch, Moan, and Whiner’s) as sometimes once you’re perceived to be in such a group it is hard for your boss to perceive you as anything else.
Act for the job you want, not the job you have.
I regularly say to my team, if you want my job, you will have to look like the Director, act like a Director, talk like a Director and take personal responsibility like a Director. In short, if you want to manage a team or gain a promotion to new job, start showing the characteristics to do so before you are officially given the job title, and dress appropriately.
Plan your rise to the top with proper visualization and aspiration
I always start by asking “where do you want to get to”? What is the utopia location or job in your mind? Once you have visualised this, now you need to work back from this point to work out a plan as to how you are going to get there.
Set optimistic, but attainable goals that will drive you to surpass your original plans and push the envelope.Always remain competitive among colleagues because it’s a dog eat dog world. No one will step aside to help you get the promotion they have been waiting years for. The business world is a selfish one that doesn’t pardon play well with pity.
Show initiative
To be taken seriously by colleagues, and more importantly superiors, one must show initiative in their work. Don’t wait for crystal clear explanations from your boss regarding your tasks. Take initiative; prove you’re the best person for the job and a you’ll be well on your way to a promotion.
Beware: Going the extra mile does not mean “brown-nosing”. Don’t volunteer to wash the boss’ car or babysit their children on the weekend. Get your act straight and gain respect for your motivation and proficiency in the work place.
This should help guide you as you gradually climb the corporate ladder. Remember: Luck occurs when hard work meets opportunity.
Responding to people really counts.
Qualifications and a good CV can help you get a job, but enthusiasm, energy, passion and commitment will help you work your way up the career ladder.
Be an observer
Don’t be intimidated by senior managers or those more experienced or vocal than you. Even those who may seem difficult have experience of working in the company and you can learn from their management style, successes and failures and observe the results they achieve for future reference in your own career. You may also receive useful career advice you can apply to your own job role.
Try not to be the bearer of bad news to your boss
This is a hard one, as on one hand you want to be the trusted colleague, on the other you do not want to be remembered as the bad news giver. My advice here is to always, where possible have a silver lining should you have to give bad news.
Do not overstretch yourself noticeably.
Try not to take on more that you can deliver. If you do, then have the confidence to let a manager or client know if you will need more help or time to get a task achieved to the high standards you and they expect. This honesty will be appreciated in the long term and will be known and trusted for your reliability.
Exceptional effort at all times.
Make the best of all projects and situations that you are asked to do or find yourself in. Even compiling a report full of figures or inputting data to a computer may give you an idea that you can use in your later career, or teach you important information about how a process works.
Put customers first.
It is really your customers that fund your salary, not your bosses. Therefore, put your customers first and their feedback and support will help you to advance later on.
Well I hope this has helped and I wish you luck (remember you make your own luck) on your career journey. Any thoughts or feedback always received well. You can follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or subscribe to our RSS Feed for this blog.
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