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Demonstrating your readiness for the next Level
Tips and tricks to manage and overcome your imposter syndrome
Leadership Admin
September 05, 2024
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Last week’s issue: Conquering your Imposter syndrome
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What we’ll learn today
Demonstrating your Readiness
10 Tips to Level Up
How opportunities might open up
How successful people think
Demonstrating readiness for a promotion requires a combination of self-awareness, proactive behaviour, and tangible results.
Where frustration and confusion may come is when you evaluate this as a box-checking exercise.
“I do all of these things or meet every area in the job description, why am I not getting promoted?”
That’s not enough. There is a lot more to it than that.
Firstly, does the opportunity or business need exist?
A few ways an opportunity can open up for you.
Growth - the business grows and there is now a need for a new leadership role.
Restructure - some departments or areas are moved around, and there is a business need for a Leader.
Backfill - another leader leaves opening up this position.
In-role promotion - if you take on extra responsibility and demonstrate your skills consistently, you may earn an in-role promotion.
No opportunity exists right now, what can you be doing?
Here are some steps to showcase your readiness for advancement in your leadership development.
Understand the Requirements: Start by thoroughly understanding the expectations and requirements for the position you're aiming for.
Review the job description, scope and competencies needed to be successful in this role. This will provide you with a clear roadmap of what skills and experiences you need to demonstrate.
Set Clear Goals: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals aligned with the expectations of the higher position.
These goals should showcase your commitment to personal and professional growth and demonstrate your ability to take on additional responsibilities.
Exceed Current Responsibilities: Consistently excel in your current role by surpassing performance expectations and delivering exceptional results.
Take ownership of projects, initiatives, or tasks beyond your job description, demonstrating your capacity to handle more significant responsibilities. This will get you noticed.
Seek Feedback Regularly: Actively seek feedback from your supervisor, peers, and team members to understand your strengths, areas for improvement, and developmental opportunities.
Use this feedback constructively to enhance your leadership skills and address any gaps that may hinder your advancement.
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Take Initiative: Demonstrate initiative by identifying and proactively addressing challenges or opportunities within your team or organization. Propose innovative solutions, lead cross-functional initiatives, or spearhead projects that add value and contribute to the achievement of organisational objectives.
Build Relationships: Cultivate strong professional relationships with colleagues, stakeholders, and decision-makers across different levels of the organisation.
Demonstrate Adaptability: Show that you can adapt to change and thrive in dynamic environments by remaining flexible, agile, and resilient. Embrace new challenges, navigate ambiguity with confidence, and demonstrate your ability to lead effectively in times of uncertainty.
Communicate Your Aspirations: Have open and honest discussions with your supervisor about your career aspirations and your interest in pursuing a promotion. Articulate how you've prepared yourself for the next level, highlighting your achievements, skills, and readiness to take on additional responsibilities.
Seek Stretch Assignments: Volunteer for stretch assignments or temporary assignments that expose you to new challenges and opportunities for growth. These experiences will not only expand your skill set but also demonstrate your willingness to step outside your comfort zone and take on new challenges.
Document Achievements: Keep a “win list” record of your accomplishments, successes, and contributions in your current role. This can form part of your proposal when presenting to your Supervisor a case to promote you - Free Template.
By implementing these strategies and consistently demonstrating your readiness for a promotion, you'll position yourself as a strong candidate for advancement in your leadership journey.
Remember to stay patient, persistent, and proactive in pursuing your career goals.
Thanks for reading.
David Marsh
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