Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Lessons from Summiting Colorado's Peaks

Hiking in Colorado is no joke – And neither are my career tips for climbing the corporate mountain.

Seriously. Mountain climbing in Colorado is tricky.?

When you get over 7,500' to conquering 14,000' summits, you'll lose your breath, and your body will be completely exhausted. Colorado trails can be rugged, elevations steep, and intense sunshine will take its toll.?

You can get injured or lost if you don't have the right equipment, daypack, water, shoes – and the proper guidance.?

But why am I rambling about Colorado and hiking??

Because to me, climbing the corporate ladder felt like climbing the Rocky Mountains while trying to get promoted to the C-Suite.?

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I grew up in Colorado, and in girl scouts, one of my favorite activities was going to the mountains. I enjoyed our day-long hikes, where we would push ourselves to conquer challenging trails and elevations.?

Throughout these hikes, we always had somebody out front to tell us where to go and how to read nature like a compass.?

Some of the tricks I remember were:?

• Find where the most branches are growing; the South side has the most sunlight.
• Moss grows on the North side of the tree because it likes the dark and humid environment.?
• If you see a Black Bear or a mountain lion, make yourself as large as possible (Stand tall, wave your arms, pick up a big branch) look and sound aggressive, and slowly back away, keeping eye contact.?

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I wish I had had that type of guidance while navigating my corporate career.?

Just as hiking without a good guide can get you scratched and bloody, you may feel the same in your career if you don't have anyone to guide you.?

I clawed and climbed up to the top, mostly by myself, skinning my knees and elbows.?

Now, I want to help as many Black and Brown women as possible to have the right advice and guidance, so they don't feel alone climbing their mountains.?

I'm on a mission to help women like yourself to become too good to be ignored and to sit at the table of your dreams. I don't want you to go through my experience and be invisible for too long, with elbows and knees bruised to move the needle.?

I've been where you are now and sat at the executive table. You can do too. Let me be your guide on your career journey.

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Here are my nine tips for climbing the corporate's mountain top:

1. Define your vision?

Get crystal clear on your goals. Ask yourself what you want and define your career destination. Also, remember that as you better understand yourself, your vision might shift a little. That's OK.?

2. Strategize your actions?

Knowing what to do and planning to address it is critical to your success. The goal is the end destination, but you need to define the exact steps to get there. Plan well and make sure your strategy is reasonable and achievable.?

3. Upgrade your skills?

I'm sure you developed excellent skills, but there is always something new to learn. Be a lifelong learner and embrace that even your 'old skills' need a bit of polishing and upgrading occasionally. There is always room for improvement.?

4. Develop an executive presence?

Maybe you have been told that you are too loud. Or angry looking. Too excited. Overly enthusiastic. Or just unrefined. I was lucky to have mentors who taught me that the promotion of managers to the C-suite requires an executive presence long before those people actually become executives. That includes Character, Class, Touch, and Tone.?

5. Optimize your environment?

What's the first thing you need to do if you're trying to lose weight? You remove chocolate bars, chips, and other snacks from your environment. Similarly, you need to figure out how to create an environment with minimum exposure to distractions. People that surround you impact your progress and, ultimately, your success.?

6. Master your thinking?

This is a big one. How you think of yourself impacts how others see you much more than you think. If you don't see yourself deserving that seat at the executive table, neither will the rest of the boardroom. Heightened awareness and uncovering programs you may have running in the background can be precisely what's needed to take your life to the next level.?

7. Find and fix your blind spots?

We all have weaknesses, so find what's yours and take a deep, honest look at your gaps. Then commit to improvement through reflection, new skill development, and repetition. Finally, implement a "Well & Better" self-evaluation process. First, ask yourself: "What did I do well?" Then, follow up: "What could I have done better?"?

8. Network?

Making the right connections is critical in getting you promoted. So, network, build, and maintain relationships with those who sit at the table where and when the promotion or bonus decisions are made.?

9. Build your value story?

Who are you? What is your big Why? Are you on a mission? What is your superpower? These questions are not easy to answer but are necessary to help you build your value story. That's vital to position you as a valuable asset to the C-Suite.?

So, there you have it – all nine steps that I've climbed, tested, and proven to work for everyone wanting to get to the executive table.?

If you're ready to start your journey, let me be your guide. Book a complimentary intro coaching session with me and let's conquer that mountain together.?Click here.