KEY POINTS:
Peter Kerridge, search partner, and Chris Johnson, coaching partner with Kerridge & Partners, on how to shift your career up a gear.
How do I progress my career in my organisation?
There are three things to ask yourself - am I doing an outstanding job or just an alright one? Do the people WHO need to know see how well I am performing - am I known? Does anyone know what my motivations and ambitions are?
I can't seem to make the next career jump. What do I need to do?
Ask yourself, are my expectations realistic? Sometimes a zigzag move works better than a vertical move - it builds on your skills and experience. Get specific feedback: anything too general is of little value, try to get examples so that you now what to focus on. Internal moves often need the support of a senior level sponsor - have you got one?
How am I do I get myself noticed? What about a move to another organisation?
Put yourself in the way of opportunity, volunteer for a project, find opportunities to get exposure. For example, present to the board, and say yes rather than no. Sometimes you have to take a risk. Take charge of the process - it's your career not the organisation's. Let your senior managers know that you are looking for the next step - remember, they are not mind-readers. Sometimes it is easier to get a promotion in a new company.
If you have been in an organisation for a while the impression others often have of you lags behind the reality. Remember when you move to a new role you can leave the baggage at the front door. Other things to do are keep your CV up to date, build your external network before you need it, test the market and, above all, think about what contribution you can make.
I have just been promoted, what now? Should I do an MBA?
This is the time to really step up a gear, think about how you will approach the new role, what will be different, key relationships and so forth. Then stand back and put a plan together that covers the first 100 days. Once you have done this try to find a coach, mentor or trusted adviser who can help keep you on track.
For many executives, an MBA can round out their understanding of how organisations work and offer frameworks that can be useful in communicating their ideas to others. They can also widen your networks, particularly into different sectors of the economy.
There is a danger that expectations of career advancement are raised: remember an MBA qualification might be a valuable differentiator between you and another candidate competing for a role, but will rarely be a mandatory requirement.
