You want to make a big career move. How can you show your readiness for the next level?

I would recommend speaking to people in the end role you want or similar. Ask for check-in every 12 months, you'll be surprised at how helpful and open many Senior Executives will be. Ensure the next role allows you develop the skills you need while your strengths provide the company with what they need.

Before pursuing career advancement, self-assessment and skill evaluation are crucial. Utilizing tools like feedback surveys and performance reviews, coupled with researching job requirements, aids in identifying gaps and strengths, enabling focused skill enhancement and effective positioning for desired roles.

Developing the needed competencies to efficiently and effectively contribute from the role, second is how to collaborate , being a team member and picking skills to transact in a team structure , lastly and most important is picking strategic mind climbing up the ladder , it supersedes operational competencies

There are inspiring words from Lao Tzu: "At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want". The starting point for a big career move is to understand one's drivers, interests, and motivations. Then comes the next step is to evaluate how are you perceived by others, and for that 360 feedback is an excellent tool. With these exercises, one has clarity on their strengths and areas for improvement to bridge the gap with the aspiring role.

I've focused on proactively taking on leadership roles within projects, showcasing my ability to manage, strategize & execute effectively. I've also invested in continuous learning, acquiring new skills & certifications relevant to the next level, underscoring my commitment to personal & professional growth. Documenting & sharing my successes & learnings, especially how I've overcome challenges, provides tangible proof of my capabilities & resilience. Networking within & outside the organization has been key, allowing me to gain insights & support from mentors & industry leaders. This holistic approach not only prepares me for the next step but also makes my aspirations & readiness visible to decision-makers.

After a holistic understanding of one's motivators, future role, strengths, and improvement opportunities, the next step is to commit to the journey of continuous self-development. And, for that, I like to quote Benjamin Franklin: "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!". A plan shows your commitment and preferably should always be in front of you so that one does not lose focus. There are several options to choose from: Classroom, Web-based, Mentoring, Coaching, Stimulating Discussions, or on-the-job training based on identified developmental opportunities. It's a good habit to revisit the plan based on upcoming technological trends and changes in the work context with a dynamic economic situation.

Demonstrating readiness for advancement involves highlighting your accomplishments, skill sets, and growth mindset examples from your professional life, using available forums (working with your manager to get a nomination for company's awards, industry forums, conferences, etc.), while quantifying achievements and underscoring the skills developed for your career progression. These initiatives aim to improve one's visibility and help in building a network of acquaintances who might help you land your aspiring roles.

It's as simple as showing value. Quantify savings and/or revenue that you are responsible for generating. Understand the pain points of the position you are going for (research company, person, and challenges ahead of time). Prove you can add value and solve the type of problems they are facing and you will be viewed much more favorably when it comes to that big career move.

Building your network is the single most important thing you can do as you work to grow your career. It’s arguably more important than 30 minutes of reading daily, 8 hours of sleep, or even an apple a day. I jest, but the point stands, 30 minutes of Networking a day will single-handedly change the trajectory of your career for the better. Give it a try, and if you don’t know where you get started, don’t hesitate to reach out.

A robust network is key to having your name mentioned during those key conversations that will eventually lead to having a seat at the table. Your network gives you the ability to be a well rounded employee and learn as much as you can about other teams. It allows you to build trust and develops bonds with other leaders and more importantly, it presents you with the opportunity to share your experiences and demonstrate how you can work well with others. Your network will challenge you and elevate you so it is key to make the right connections. Be open to expand your network and watch what doors open for you.

Building a network is THE most important contributor to how one's career going to fly. People often misunderstand the concept of networking and equate it with friends. However, in a classic study, sociologist Mark Granovetter showed people were 58% more likely to get a new job through acquaintances (weak ties) than friends (strong ties). Therefore, it's an essential area that goes parallel with showcasing one's achievements. To grow one's network, one needs to move out of the comfort zone and participate or take up roles where one can show their skills and leave a positive impression about contributions/work. One needs to engage with the audience or potential network through a symbiotic mindset and not a "What's in it for me" approach.

I've learned through BNI (Business Network International, global networking organization that helps businesses and professionals build relationships and generate referrals), that you can build a powerful network by following the VCP formula. This acronym stands for Visibility, Credibility, and Profitability. Here's how it works: For those who already know you, you're perceived as credible and capable of delivering results (profit). However, to expand your reach and increase your impact on your personal profitability, you must strive for greater visibility. Increased visibility enhances your credibility, which in turn improves your results. After all, if people don't know you, how can they engage your services?

Der Stellenwert eines soliden Netzwerks ist Gold wert. Hierbei sollte man sich nicht bei jedem Kontakt fragen, was der andere für einen tun kann sondern sich immer die Frage stellen, was man selbst für andere tun kann. Wenn man seine Kompetenz sowie seine Zuverl?ssigkeit unter Beweis stellt, zahlt dies auf die eigene Reputation ein. Ben?tigt man selbst Expertise, kennt man in der Regel jemanden, der jemanden kennt.

This is one of the critical factors that apply - you have to want to step up or take up that role, demonstrating that you can adapt and grow. You need to feel you can adapt and show you could. Be ambitious and realistic - don’t pretend it’s easy, nor signal this could be too difficult. Of course build and promote your strengths, yet also show you appreciate there might be unknown and untested areas. Ultimately it’s about a well-grounded confidence, and an openness to learning and a quiet determination to succeed.

Change is inevitable in any organization looking to be innovative, proactive and ahead of the competition. Therefore, in order advance one must be able to not just adapt to the changes but also evolve. It’s one thing to be able to deal with the change but it is quite another to demonstrate your agility and resilience by being able to learn, grow and evolve as a result of your ever changing environment. The fact that you are able to thrive in your new environment demonstrates your experience, stable foundation and ability to persevere.

In "On the Origin of Species," Charles Darwin concluded that survival doesn't necessarily favour the strongest or the smartest species, but those most responsive to change or adaptable. This principle, although originating from the mid-19th century, remains profoundly pertinent today. Our modern environment, dominated by the swift currents of technological advancement, demands adaptability for survival, echoing Darwin's insights into the nature of evolution and persistence. With a growth mindset and child-like curiosity about the world around oneself, a person can anticipate the changes and mentally/physically prepare themselves for a transition.

Trouble is, the literature illustrates thatUK is biased in favour of those that show extroverted tendencies. So it really isn’t a level playing field in my view , and that ‘ quiet determination’ will only get you so far in that kind of culture .

There are so many opportunities to further your learning or develop a specific skill that can enhance your career capabilities. Be curious. Keep your eyes and ears open. Is there a new committee being created? Learn about it and volunteer. A new software being tested and implemented? Take the initiative to do some self-training (you really can learn anything on YouTube!). Show your leaders you are ready to learn, lead, and adapt to help the company succeed.

To build your career, be a continuous learner, a connector, and open to possibilities. Each of my career shifts happened because my network knew my strengths and my willingness to learn and stretch myself. One of the most meaningful shifts was being offered a CHRO role that I didn’t apply for. The CEO had previously worked with me and liked my strategic mindset. That was more important for the role than the fact that my resume did not show the traditional HR route. Shifts like this gave me the courage to open my executive coaching firm and support leaders leading change, where agility and transferable skills are almost as important as technical skills when defining “readiness”. A rewarding career is not always a straight line.

Knowing oneself holistically in terms of aspirations, strengths, priorities & development areas is a must. Introspect ,take feedback from seniors, team members, friends, family members & do your SWOT Analysis followed by IDP. Showcase your achievements and the impact that you created in the past which are relevant to the desired career move.Be a student and go with an open learning mindset. Study & prepare yourself every day. Find good mentors, this will give you an edge. Network with various influencers across the organization.Talk to customers & know their pain points.Think critically & strategically before proposing any solutions.Be responsive and sincere.Exhibit humility, empathy & courage. Be adaptable to change. Resilience is the key!

Start getting a better understanding of the difference between the role you currently do and the requirements of the new role that you ideally would like. Often when we get a new role we continue to do the things that we previously done and we don’t fully adapt to the new role or the capabilities required we’re still undertaking legacy activities because we enjoy them we’re good at them all they got us recognition. It’s time to stop doing those things and start showing that you have the capability for the new responsibilities and can step up

In my experience, accountability and ownership have been the most important “soft” skills to demonstrate. Inherent to being promoted is the idea that you’re ready to move forward and lead a project and teammates to successful delivery. In order to get there, it may take creative problem solving. In order to feel driven to complete the problem solving, accountability and ownership have proven to be critical.

Ein guter Weg, einen gro?en Karriereschritt zu machen, ist ein schwieriges Problem für die Organisation zu l?sen. Suchen Sie nach einem Problem, das niemand angehen will. In der Managementliteratur spricht man auch von ?Uncontested Domain“. Das k?nnte z.B. ein schlecht laufendes Produkt oder ein notleidendes Tochterunternehmen sein. Analysieren Sie das Problem und stellen einen Plan für dessen L?sung auf. Gehen Sie auf Ihre Vorgesetzten zu, zeigen Initiative und übernehmen Verantwortung. Ihre Vorgesetzten werden es honorieren.