How to be fast tracked to leadership positions?

[Anonymous]

Do more work than other people (this doesn't mean you spend more time working).

Do things better than other people do them.

Do things faster than other people do them.

Respond to emails quickly and write clearly.

Be consistent: consistently nice, consistently helpful consistently interesting, consistently sharp with good ideas.

Be attractive, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

This is me. It helps that I work at a smallish company so could be visible. Some of it was just right place/right time. I also put myself out there a lot. I covered for things, offered to help out on things when it was needed, took time to know everyone's names and small little details about them so I could make conversation like we were closer than we were, and was just generally a high valued team player.

When an upper management position was becoming open, I was approached by a couple senior people about applying for the job. I was pretty surprised but decided it wouldn't hurt. I was actually one of their top candidates and was pretty much offered the position immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right place, right time.

You’re not filling a hole that doesn’t exist.

This is the only answer. It’s all about being at the right place at the right time. That right place is a position below leadership, that right time is a change in leadership with people willing to take a chance

[Anonymous]

Hitch your wagon to the right guy/gal... it's the only way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tall. White. Male.

Emphasis on the tall. It’s a joke in my office - the next leader likely to be taller than the last.

[Anonymous]

Lean In.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do more work than other people (this doesn't mean you spend more time working).

Do things better than other people do them.

Do things faster than other people do them.

Respond to emails quickly and write clearly.

Be consistent: consistently nice, consistently helpful consistently interesting, consistently sharp with good ideas.

Be attractive, unfortunately.

I can tell you’re not in a position of leadership bc none of this is accurate.

Why would I promote the hardest worker? I can keep paying them lower wages for the same work lol

[Anonymous]

Have a strong network of people you’ve delivered for in the past, which should not be confined to your own chain. When they need someone they’ll tap you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My secret. Have a great resume. Get a real MBA or grad degree not online crap. Get certifications. Get brand name companies in resume FAANG or JP Morgan or Goldman or top tier consulting, speak at conferences, work late, jump on grenades. Crisis comes up jump on it. Interact regulators, board or external auditors. Be ready to fail and take chances. And jump around for me it was job 7 at 44 I finally got that big corner office with the water view. My way was no sponsor or connections

Are you a woman? How tall are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tall. White. Male.

And be friends with other tall white males.

Also if you have to ask, you aren’t part of the ones who get these.

This. The leadership mentor their favorites, if they haven’t already tapped your shoulder you are SOL.

[Anonymous]

Some companies have leadership development programs for high-potential newer employees. Those are usualy a fast-track to accelerated promotions. Selection is based on demonstrated performance, enthgusiasm, and appropriate ambition; being hired in the first instance was where education, possibly experience if not an entry-level role, and other credentials mattered more.

Fit is critical. You must speak, behave, be groomed, and dress like those who are successful in the company. That has nothing to do with race, gender, or height. It has everything to do with self-awareness and a recognition that some measure of conformity is essential for acceptance as a potential peer. That's just the way it is.

Know how to manage up. That is, your performance needs to make your management look good. People are not motivated by what you want, but by what they want - give them what they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do more work than other people (this doesn't mean you spend more time working).

Do things better than other people do them.

Do things faster than other people do them.

Respond to emails quickly and write clearly.

Be consistent: consistently nice, consistently helpful consistently interesting, consistently sharp with good ideas.

Be attractive, unfortunately.

I can tell you’re not in a position of leadership bc none of this is accurate.

Why would I promote the hardest worker? I can keep paying them lower wages for the same work lol

I am actually, but not all industries are the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some companies have leadership development programs for high-potential newer employees. Those are usualy a fast-track to accelerated promotions. Selection is based on demonstrated performance, enthgusiasm, and appropriate ambition; being hired in the first instance was where education, possibly experience if not an entry-level role, and other credentials mattered more.

Fit is critical. You must speak, behave, be groomed, and dress like those who are successful in the company. That has nothing to do with race, gender, or height. It has everything to do with self-awareness and a recognition that some measure of conformity is essential for acceptance as a potential peer. That's just the way it is.

Know how to manage up. That is, your performance needs to make your management look good. People are not motivated by what you want, but by what they want - give them what they want.

So they are biased about my suit jacket color, but not my race, gender, or height — that tracks…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My secret. Have a great resume. Get a real MBA or grad degree not online crap. Get certifications. Get brand name companies in resume FAANG or JP Morgan or Goldman or top tier consulting, speak at conferences, work late, jump on grenades. Crisis comes up jump on it. Interact regulators, board or external auditors. Be ready to fail and take chances. And jump around for me it was job 7 at 44 I finally got that big corner office with the water view. My way was no sponsor or connections

Are you a woman? How tall are you?

I got my last two jobs during Covid on Zoom so they had no clue on height.

Of course tall people get more money they pay by the inch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My secret. Have a great resume. Get a real MBA or grad degree not online crap. Get certifications. Get brand name companies in resume FAANG or JP Morgan or Goldman or top tier consulting, speak at conferences, work late, jump on grenades. Crisis comes up jump on it. Interact regulators, board or external auditors. Be ready to fail and take chances. And jump around for me it was job 7 at 44 I finally got that big corner office with the water view. My way was no sponsor or connections

Are you a woman? How tall are you?

I got my last two jobs during Covid on Zoom so they had no clue on height.

Of course tall people get more money they pay by the inch.

Haha, you can tell if someone is short from zoom don’t worry.

So you are male…