Even if you don’t view your contemporaries as competition, when they seem to be making faster progress in their careers, you have to ask, “Why?”
What is it that they have got that you don’t? What are they doing that you are not doing?
Often, this is puzzling, especially when they appear to have similar (or less) intellect, experience and skill.
To give you a few ideas, here is a list of possible gaps reviewed during a recent, and highly productive coaching session, with a man who is now set to fly.
Vision
People who move up fast are often great at developing and communicating vision. They can translate it so others latch onto it straight away.
Ambition
High fliers have bold, if not audacious ambition. They are aiming to achieve great things, scale high levels, and are able to communicate appropriately with credibility.
Social
Fast-movers know how to work their large networks. They build friendships, alliances and keep their ear to the ground. They know what’s going on, and who the movers and shakers are.
Visibility
People who move up fast have developed ways to confidently stand out from the crowd. They get more than a fair share of the limelight, but rarely appear to be self-promoters. There is a subtlety here that most earnest people miss, to their cost.
Contribution
In addition to visibility, promotable people demonstrate their potential to add value, to the organisation and critically, the powerful players. This means that it has to align with the strategy, problems and goals of the top people.
Politics
Oh yes, without a doubt, people who rise through the ranks have mastered this dynamic and are able to leverage social capital into political capital and results.
Portfolio
Depending on where you are heading, often a range of experiences is needed, such as P&L, Operations, etc. That said, there are ways to economise and you don’t necessarily need to spend years in each. What you must get is a depth of understanding and empathy for many functions.
It goes without saying that they achieve results, have a great track-record, etc. But probably you have these things too?
What you must do though, is work out what you’re getting wrong, and put it right. Otherwise, your puzzlement may turn to resentment and you’ll be digging yourself deeper into career stagnation.
The good news is, filling many of the gaps above only takes awareness, a new decision and simple action.
Now, get moving!
The Gautrey Influence Blog
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