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Seeking that C-level position

by Katie Ford

So you think you're ready for the big leagues? If you will settle for nothing but the C-level in your future, then perhaps you should enlist a strategy for landing that senior executive title. Howard Seidel, Ed.D., J.D., of Essex Partners, a consulting firm that coaches senior executives, suggests following these surefire steps to reach the next level.

Do good work. Sometimes this very basic tenet gets lost in the politics of maneuvering to the top. However, if your work isn't great, it will cost you when that opportunity to move up in the ranks arrives.

Develop a "can do" reputation. Don't groan or come up with excuses. Be willing to work hard and prove that you are reliable - every time.

Find ways to be visible. Make an effort to get involved with projects that are seen as priorities within the company, or that involve cross-departmental collaboration. Doing so will enable you to forge and strengthen relationships, as well as exhibit leadership skills. However, be sure that you can pull off what you've signed up to do; just as your successes will be more visible, so will your failures.

Sharpen your presentation skills. People make a lot of inferences about someone's capabilities from their public speaking skills and leadership style. If you're not comfortable getting in front of people, then get comfortable. That means making sure you find opportunities to make presentations when possible.

Offer to lighten the load. Anticipate areas where your boss could use some assistance and offer to take the lead - but only if it makes sense to her. Remember: You're offering to take a task off her plate because it's an area of interest to you, not because you think you can do the job better than she can.

Take on a mentor. Choose a person of leadership within your organization whom you respect and trust and leverage him or her for advice. If you show a willingness to learn and you excel under their guidance, these individuals can become champions for you as you pursue new responsibilities and seek loftier titles.

Some words of caution about leveraging mentors: Don't seek a relationship that seemingly undercuts your relationship with your boss, and don't seek a mentorship with everyone you meet. Be discriminating. If word gets out that you're seeking advice from several higher-ups, your queries for guidance could seem insincere. Moreover, if you approach your mentor about an issue with your boss, make it clear that you're seeking advice on how you can resolve the issue - not how your mentor can take action to solve the problem for you.

Be willing to get schooled. Does your educational background give you the credentials or knowledge you need to reach the senior tier? Take a look at those who hold the job titles you desire. What degrees or certifications do they have and what universities did they attend? Most accredited universities now offer flexible graduate school programs to make it easier for working professionals to seek advanced degrees.

Share your career goals with your boss. Smart supervisors want to develop their employees for higher positions, so seek their counsel when you can get it. After all, your boss is the first and foremost decision maker regarding your future with the company. Gain his support by expressing your ambitions, but also make sure that your primary focus is on learning how you can excel in the job you were hired to do. Performance reviews are great opportunities to broach the subject of career planning with your superior.

Mind these steps and soon you'll be parking in the reserved spot and heading to that corner office with a view.