Mid-managers: Do you have “the right stuff” to move up in your career or get a job promotion?
In an article on Forbes, John Rao shares his perspective on what they are. He bases this perspective on an analysis of what search firms look for as proof that candidates would meet the “specs.”
Below are five keys to moving ahead in your career. They are NOT magic pills that can immediately propel you in your career progression journey.
The journey starts with understanding what the current and future market wants and is willing to pay for. Then it continues with developing your skills accordingly before selecting or developing work experiences based on these market demands.
Here is a summary of the “the right stuff” he found for career progress whatever level you may be at:
Discuss Results :: Demonstrate and discuss your ability to get results. Your colleagues know what your job involves. Your interviewers know too. Even if they don't it's really more valuable (and more interesting too if you ask me) if you talk about the tangible or measurable results of your efforts and how they have progressed over time. I also encourage job seekers to include statistics in their resume to showcase how they made a difference through their role in the organisations they worked at.
Include Your Team :: Keep in mind that people want to be, and stay connected. People want to work with you (and for you) because they feel connected. So when you're sharing tangible results, use phrases like “we earned” or “we achieved” indicating that it took team effort to create those results. If you omit how your team members contributed to the results, it may show your own selfishness which disconnects you from your listeners (interviewers included).
Keep Your Ego In Check :: Once again, this relates to bringing teamwork and being a team player into your conversations. Team players are presentable and likable. Team players are open to constructive criticism. Don’t pretend to know what you don’t. Don’t talk about yourself too much. Don’t overplay your accomplishments at work.
Think Strategically :: If you’re a manager, you are tasked to implement change in an organised direction. You can only do that by understanding the expectations of those involved (upline and downline) so that you can envision and articulate change. So ask intentional questions that relate to the organisation’s short- and long-term objectives or the expectations of the teams upline as well as downline.
Be Concise :: Figure out what your upline or interviewer needs to know and feed them exactly that. Share salient points upfront to check if you’re on the same page as your listeners (which includes interviewers). Spare the details until you are sure you’re on the same page as them. And ask intentional questions to showcase that you are able to think strategically (see #4).
While working on moving upwards, remember it is very important to continue to do your current job with a spirit of excellence.
Original article here.