Becoming a divisional president is a challenging but rewarding career goal for many executives. It requires a combination of strategic vision, operational excellence, leadership skills, and stakeholder management. In this article, we will explore some of the steps and tips to help you achieve this position and succeed in it.
Before you pursue a divisional president role, you need to assess your readiness and suitability for it. This means evaluating your current skills, experience, strengths, and gaps in relation to the expectations and requirements of the position. You also need to consider your personal and professional goals, values, and motivations, and how they align with the division's vision, mission, and culture. A self-assessment can help you identify your areas of improvement, as well as your competitive advantages and unique contributions.
Clarify this career goal asap with your boss / manager and / or mentor. It helps to start early. Usually depending on industry and company size it takes on average 10-15 years to become a division president. The earlier you start in building your credentials the better - usually you would need to have at least 2-3 career changes / promotions during this time frame including 1.) operational experience, eg as Sales director, 2.) strategic experience, eg strategy manager, and potentially work experience abroad.
4 Key Areas to Get Ready: 1. Take time and reflect on: Think about why you want the job. It's a big role with lots of demands, responsibilities, and time commitment. 2. Know your mindset: Understand the job's responsibilities, your readiness to serve and for the commitment/sacrifices. Is this the job you really want? 3. Consider if your family or important people in your life are ready for this trade-off. 4. Take on assignments beyond your usual responsibilities to gain exposure beyond your expertise. Partner in corporate initiatives, explore different functions, divisions, and regions. Expand your horizon. Having a trusted mentor or coach during the journey can help you answer why you need the role and how to prepare for it.
Networking is essential for any executive career advancement, but especially for becoming a divisional president. You need to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders within and outside your division, such as senior leaders, peers, subordinates, customers, suppliers, partners, and industry associations. Networking can help you gain visibility, credibility, feedback, support, and opportunities. You should also seek mentors and sponsors who can guide you, advocate for you, and connect you with influential people and decision-makers.
Networking within and outside your industry, such as through conferences and professional associations, provides opportunities to learn industry trends and meet influential leaders. For example, a middle manager can leverage these connections for mentorship and career advancement. Active networking helps gain visibility and recognition, crucial for high-level roles like Divisional President. It's important to establish relationships with mentors and industry peers, as they can offer guidance, support, and advocate for your advancement. A strong network, combined with expertise and experience, positions you effectively for such a leadership role.
To become a divisional president, you need to demonstrate your value and impact as a leader and manager. This means delivering consistent and exceptional results in your current role, as well as taking on additional responsibilities and initiatives that showcase your potential and readiness for the next level. You should also communicate your achievements and aspirations clearly and confidently to your superiors and stakeholders, and highlight how you can add value to the division and the organization as a whole.
Yes, these are all good points but they are general in nature. The potential divisional president will have to demonstrate more specific projects and financial goals or targets. For example, we need to move forward with product mix review to enhance our gross margin and hence operating profit/s. Give projected completion times and who is actioning important items and giving feedback. What additional staff/ workforce is needed and how will they be recruited.
Another step to becoming a divisional president is to expand your knowledge and skills in various aspects of the business. As a divisional president, you will be responsible for overseeing the strategy, operations, finance, marketing, sales, human resources, and other functions of your division. You will also need to understand the external environment, such as the industry trends, customer needs, competitor actions, and regulatory changes. Therefore, you should seek opportunities to learn from different sources, such as courses, books, podcasts, webinars, conferences, and experts.
Finally, to become a divisional president, you need to embrace change and innovation. The business world is constantly evolving and facing new challenges and opportunities. As a divisional president, you will be expected to lead your division through change and transformation, and to foster a culture of innovation and agility. You should be open to new ideas, perspectives, and approaches, and willing to experiment, adapt, and improve. You should also encourage and empower your team to do the same, and to embrace change as an opportunity for growth and development.
Approach the job you are doing today as if you will do it forever!! While you are working on elevating your career, ensure that you deliver and excel in your current job. Make sure you build a terrific track record. Remember, most companies will develop or look for internal candidates for such senior roles. If they open up to new talent, they will likely choose someone with great achievements. Focus on your current job and strive for the best results. Invest time in it, in yourself, and in achieving optimal outcomes.
An important, often overlooked aspect of becoming a divisional president is cultivating emotional intelligence (EI). This involves understanding and managing your emotions, empathizing with others, and building strong interpersonal relationships. High EI leaders are more effective in handling the complexities of high-level roles, driving team performance, and navigating corporate politics. Developing this skill can set you apart in the journey to executive leadership.