5 Keys to Moving up the Corporate Ladder

People who achieve high-end corporate success or land those six figure promotions do not do so through chance or accident. Many people assume it is because of who they know or favors provided through associations. But this cannot be further from the truth. The majority of those who move up the corporate ladder have done so through following specific standards. Understanding and implementing these standards can help you accelerate your career. With this in mind, here are five keys to maximizing success in corporate America:

1. Work Hard.

This is an age-old theme still prevalent today. Art Williams, the founder of A.L. Williams & Associates and once owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, said “you can beat 90% of the competition by just working hard, the other 10% is a dog fight.” To move up the corporate ladder you must show and prove you are willing to put in the extra hours and effort to succeed. Many of the high paying jobs require effort beyond the normal 9-5 scale. If you expect to come home at 5pm kickback and watch T.V., then the high-end corporate position may not be for you!

2. Understand the difference between failure and development opportunities.

Many people actually think that success is an outcome of perfection, but in reality failure is a necessary process to success. Many people make the mistake of focusing on “getting it wrong” versus utilizing it as opportunity for learning and retooling skills. You will find many successful people in corporate America have many failures. What makes them different is they do not treat them as such. They use them as a way to identify weaknesses and then they take corrective measures for future success. There are many people with phenomenal resumes that do not get ahead simply because they lack the ability to “get up off of the canvas” after life or situations on the job throws them a right hook. A key ingredient to climbing the corporate ladder is your response to the failures along the way.

3. Don’t be afraid of competition.

Most people view competition as an obstruction versus learning from the experience. Too much emphasis is placed on sabotaging the competition or hoping for its demise when instead focus should be placed upon developing assets, skills or relationships with key thought leaders. The majority of high-ranking corporate figures didn’t get there by focusing on the competition; they got there by utilizing it to set themselves apart. Through enduring the wins and losses of competition your weaknesses are exposed, which allows you to get better, faster, stronger. As a result, you become the “cream that rises to the top.” Embracing competition is an invaluable asset to moving up the corporate ladder.

4. Take a personal stake in your development.

Many successful executives take ownership of their development by hiring an executive coachbecause they understand that an important factor of success is continued improvement and development. Once you recognize key deficiencies you must take the necessary steps to ensure their improvement. Allowing them to impact your performance will ultimately lead to your higher ups’ recognition. Even though they may provide “in house” support for skills development e.g. training, the damage may already be done. Moving up the corporate ladder is a continuous process of improvement and development. Those who do not place an emphasis on continued improvement will find themselves stuck at the bottom of the ladder. Taking the initiative towards development and improvement of key skills is critical in moving up the corporate ladder.

5. Be low maintenance.

Yes, the squeaky wheel does get oil in corporate America. As a matter of fact, it is Human Resources that applies the oil and records it in your personnel files. Low maintenance means you are independent or have the ability to perform your duties and responsibilities without the intervention of others. Common causes for corporate intervention are conflict and disagreements; skill deficiencies; emotional challenges (stress) caused by circumstances on job; diversity challenges and so on. These forms of interventions may not hurt your career long term, but they do little to help it. To ensure your place at the top of the ladder you must attempt to avoid situations that demand intervention and noting in your personnel files, with the exception of successes and promotions. Being low maintenance is important in getting ahead in corporate America.

Enjoying and maximizing the benefits of a fulfilling career should be the goal of all who work in corporate America. Hopefully, understanding these keys to moving up the corporate ladder will help improve your chances of success!

Ra Ama Hetep Amenhas been a Synergy Coachfor over 10 years. He has close to 15 years of business and sales experience with some of the top fortune 500 companies both in the pharmaceutical and financial services arena. He has also held the position of branch manager with one of the top financial services companies. He has over 10 years of experience and training in traditional African philosophy with an emphasis on ancient Egyptian principles and personality methodologies. He has been married 19 years and counting and has three children. Catch up with him on Twitter at @RaAmaHetep or Facebook at Ra Ama Hetep Amen