Moving Up in Your Management Career

Last Updated January 14, 2021

Whether you’re an entry-level or a senior employee, it’s always a good time to tactfully promote and endorse yourself wherever possible, especially if you aspire to move into upper management or even an executive level position. While many organizations are rethinking those traditional hierarchal structures, concentrating on some of the smaller things may make the difference in your career trajectory, especially as competition for top jobs becomes more aggressive.

The following actionable advice for moving up in your field can help impress those that matter when a new position becomes available. Take these steps to help secure your future – today!

Share the Spotlight

Great leaders are instantly recognizable, regardless of their job titles. Their secret is not only knowing when to step forward but also when to take a step back. If you’ve got a great idea for improving profits or upping the company’s standards of service, by all means, share it – but never do so at someone else’s detriment.

Letting others speak and listening carefully to their ideas demonstrates a willingness to consider multiple views and opinions for the larger vision of the company. It’s a great way to build a reputation as a candidate for advancement, as long as you’re also willing to speak openly when the time is right. Even if your proposal doesn’t come to fruition, you’ll earn points for thinking about ways to build business and help the company prosper.

Speak Carefully

Successful managers are generally masters of the spoken word, as many of their professional duties rely on effective communication. Purge all disrespectful words and slang from your lexicon. Pay attention to your digital communications as well – it may be tempting to use texting lingo, abbreviations, and emoticons, but it’s better to err on the side of caution. This goes for external and internal communications – an emoji that may seem cute and friendly in an email sign off may be unprofessional given the context.

Another critical communications tip for future managers is cross-cultural competence. As business becomes more globalized, it’s becoming more important to understand the similarities and differences between cultures and adapt to the cultural norms of international clients and partners. If you are looking to become more fluent culturally, familiarizing yourself with Hofstede’s cultural dimensions or the Spony Profiling Model will help you establish a flexible and effective style for working in multi-cultural environments and can ensure that you are communicating effectively with international clients. Another way to up your global marketability is to learn a second language. Non-native fluency will open job opportunities not only at home but abroad as well.

Adopt a Positive Attitude

Whether you are in a direct service industry or serving internal clients, successful customer service is impossible while presenting a sour attitude. Good manners and a sincere smile go a long way no matter who you are communicating with. Never complain to your boss about minor incidents, and keep in mind that you represent your employer every minute of the workday. Every workplace has the dreaded “water cooler” talk, but don’t indulge in the gossip. Rising above the fray will allow you to earn respect from your coworkers and supervisors.

Always focus on what you’re passionate about in your job and view any obstacles or problems as opportunities to learn and grow. Approaching a challenge with a plan to overcome it is one way to demonstrate that you can think like a manager. If you’re 100% committed to your work and take pride in completing every task, you’ll not only catch the manager’s eye, but you may also find yourself loving your work.

Get Versatile

By taking on roles or projects that stretch your skills while also forcing you to seek out new ones, you’ll acquire valuable practical, knowledge that helps you demonstrate your versatility.  Another way to familiarize yourself with and gain new skills is to shadow other employees across the department to learn more about what they do. Not only is this invaluable for gaining knowledge, giving you a sense of what is in-demand and demonstrating your commitment to keep growing, but in many organizations this cross-functional knowledge sharing and collaboration is expected, not only internally but with partners and even customers.

“Many modern businesses have become matrix led or even networked, running core competencies with suppliers, working in close innovative collaboration,” says Keith B. Niblett, Assistant Director of Executive Development Programs at Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business. “The key motivator to positioning an employee within the organization can be their ability to collaborate and innovate with a key supplier or a key customer.”

Promotion, even from within, is always a risk, so understanding your organization’s structure and partnerships and then working actively within that structure can show your managers you’re serious about forging a career, not just working a job.

Further Your Education

Managers and executives have a deep and comprehensive knowledge of the industry that is typically acquired through extensive professional experience, education, or both. A Certificate in Supervisory Management can demonstrate your commitment to career advancement. Earning your certificate can also provide you with the necessary competencies and soft skills needed to succeed as you climb up the ladder.