Climbing the corporate ladder is a challenging journey that takes passion, determination and a lot of strategic planning. While some professionals are happy to level out at a midlevel position, others are set on moving up higher, into a coveted C-suite position.
The move from a midlevel role to the C-suite isn’t always an easy one to make. Here, 13 members of Forbes Coaches Council discuss the most important things they would advise their clients to start doing right away if they expressed an interest in making such a career move.
1. Build A Development Plan
Have this important career discussion with your leader and build a development plan to ready yourself. You will also need to get noticed in a positive and productive way. Do more than is expected of you. Build relationships with those who can help you by providing feedback, advocating for you or connecting you with others who have power and influence. - Kimberly Svoboda, Aspiration Catalyst®
2. Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
It’s important to showcase your ability to see the entire landscape and articulate a cohesive strategy (both short-term and long-term). This will signal that you are able to shift from leading managers to leading the business. - Kristy Busija, Next Conversation Coaching, LLC
3. Find A Mentor To Invest In You
Find a great mentor who is willing to invest in you and your future by preparing you for the next steps. Then, “pay it back” by mentoring someone else, but not someone who works for you, of course. (You cannot mentor a direct report—ever!) Read. Ask questions. Learn to understand “numbers.” Learn strategic business models (even if you never use them). - Antonio Garrido, Absolute Sales Development
4. Demonstrate Thought Leadership
Lean into opportunities to demonstrate thought leadership. Write, post and comment on LinkedIn. Volunteer to coach, mentor and train others around you. People follow leaders they understand, know and trust. It’s really not about tactical skills at the C-level; it is the ability to motivate and cultivate the best in others that is most valuable. Demonstrate that clearly and often. - Stacey Staaterman, Stacey Staaterman Coaching & Consulting
5. Consider What Success Looks Like In The Role
Get curious about what success looks like in the target role. Being curious includes mapping how your strengths, experiences and career goals align with the target role, developing a plan to address any gaps and letting the right people know you are interested in the target role while seeking their advice on the right way to pursue the role. Then, have confidence and go for it! - Sandy Schwan, Evolving Strategies LLC
6. Create A Succession Plan
Those who desire to climb the ladder into a C-suite position should create a succession plan that identifies leadership gaps and strengths. By identifying these gaps, they can obtain the necessary coaching and professional development to fill the gaps while further developing the strengths. This approach will help them identify a lateral or detail position to fill gaps. - Diane Hudson, Career Marketing Techniques, LLC
7. Upskill, Network And Explore Opportunities
Think about the competencies and capabilities needed for the new role you desire and then create a plan to start developing them. As you work on upskilling, continue networking and exploring new opportunities. Often, the role you think you want won’t be the role that is available, or it won’t actually be the best fit for your ongoing career development. - Jonathan H. Westover, Utah Valley University & Human Capital Innovations, LLC
8. Create A 30-60-90 Day Plan
After creating a 30-60-90 day plan, you’ll feel grounded and can share insights with your employees. This approach allows you to gather information and create a foundation for a plan to succeed while still supporting and serving others. Plus, if you remain open, you’ll see solutions others may miss and be able to share a new perspective that could benefit your company. It’s a win-win for everyone! - Rosie Guagliardo, InnerBrilliance Coaching
9. Refine Your Internal Board
What is an internal board? These are the people who are your closest influencers and “have your back,” personally and career-wise, as you go through a C-suite move. Create or refine this board to build the network you need to achieve your next goal. Find people who believe in you, understand C-suite issues and can critique you along the journey to your leadership position. - John M. O’Connor, Career Pro Inc.
10. Assess The Perceived Gap Against The Actual Gap
Assessing the perceived gap and understanding the actual gap may render some useful insights. In practice, I have found that the former is overestimated and the latter underestimated. With reflection comes awareness and the opportunity to reset the narrative and set ideas in motion that will help you incrementally progress toward the desired goal. Making progress and taking the correct action are both vital. - Arthi Rabikrisson, Prerna Advisory
11. Clarify What You’re Willing To Sacrifice
Before making the leap, the client should clarify what they are willing to do and, ultimately, to sacrifice to get there. There are opportunity costs to everything in life. No matter what we’re trying to accomplish, we’ll have to give up something to make it happen. As such, the first step is to conduct a cost-benefit analysis to ensure you know the price you’ll have to pay. - Andreas von der Heydt, Andreas Von Der Heydt Coaching & Consulting
12. Understand The Cultural Climate
Understand the cultural climate of the team you now serve. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” as the saying goes. Spend time with each direct report, getting to know them as a human and listening to what they think is working and not working. Find ways to connect to the great team that doesn’t report to you. Step one should always be to listen and find out what the cultural norms are, good and bad. - Alex Draper, DX Learning Solutions
13. Build New Relationships And Evolve Current Ones
Moving from a midlevel position into the C-suite means one thing for someone with those aspirations: building relationships. You want to start evolving your current relationships by answering questions such as, “Are you connected and getting to know them at a deeper level?” Then, you can start to build business plans to help elevate them and grow profits. - Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience