Work 

Get ahead in your career

No one is going to run the race to the top for you. Set a goal, work out how to achieve it, and go for it.  Be prepared for other runners trying to trip you up on the way. Humans are highly competitive and you won’t be the only one with your eyes on the prize.

Smashing the glass ceiling
Make no mistake; breaking through the glass ceiling can be challenging. It’s been closely guarded for millennium and even today there are people who will use all kinds of tactics to hang on to the top spots and fend off rivals.  High achievement doesn’t happen by accident. You need all the help you can get, so arm yourself with top skills, a clever plan, good mates and a steely attitude. 

Here are some tips on how to get ahead:

Choose wisely.  Pick a career you‘ll feel passionate about because if you love something – or even just like it a lot - you’ll play hard to keep it. And having tenacity, ambition and determination can be a big help in smashing the glass ceiling.  So be sure about your career path and follow it with gusto.

Find a mentor. If your company doesn’t have an official mentorship programme, contact a member of management that you identify with and admire and ask them if they would be your mentor.  Be sure to carefully evaluate your choices. Also, write down some guidelines and define your expectations and needs before asking.

Seek the path to promotion. Find out which departments or areas managers are traditionally recruited from. Companies usually have profiles of senior staff on their websites. Use this information to decide which companies to apply or stay with. Study the profiles of people in positions you wish to pursue to find out what skills and qualifications and personal qualities are desirable.

Be strategic. Don’t jump at anything and everything, or try and be everyone’s friend. You’ll not only spread yourself too thinly but also come across as unfocussed and too keen. Pick and choose wisely; put your hand up for the odd painful project as well as the fabulous ones.

Upskill. Look for training opportunities, internally and externally, to build skills relevant to your career trajectory. Do post-graduate studies in your spare time.  And let your managers know that’s what you’re doing. Ask your bosses and mentor to recommend training or post grad study. Always stay on top of the latest technologies or processes in your field. This will add weight to your CV and demonstrate you commitment to personal growth

Develop your leadership skills.  Acquire recognised, accredited qualifications in leadership and management skills.

Network, network, network. Use every opportunity to make contacts within the organisation and your profession. If the traditional drinks-hour and sport events aren’t you, try some non-traditional ways of networking, such as online groups, book clubs and dinners. Identify external organisations that exist to support women within your profession. Join professional groups like LinkedIn

Maintain your profile. Document every successful assignment, result and process and either ask Human Resources to attach it to your personnel file, or present it during your appraisal or review. Management’s perception of you will influence your promotion opportunities.

Build relationships.  Seek out and connect with colleagues – both underlings and superiors – that you admire and trust. Be a trustworthy and valuable colleague yourself, even to those you may not even like on a personal level. This means avoiding playing office politics, isolating others, backstabbing and playing favourites.

Look the part. No one will take you seriously if you rock up to work with bed hair and wearing barely there party frocks. Dress ‘up’ by all means, but in clothes suitable for the next rung on your career ladder Maintain your high standards even on casual Fridays – choose chic street wear NOT track daks or runners.

Be visible. Playing the wallflower will not crack the glass ceiling. Be active and articulate in meetings and join working groups, particularly those with decision-making authority. Jump at opportunities to work with other departments to raise your profile with other managers

Take on challenges and responsibilities. Try to take on assignments and extra responsibility where you can, without compromising your work-life balance. This will show your commitment to the company and your determination to further your career.

Good manners are a gift from your parents. Knowing how to conduct yourself and how to treat others are valuable skills that get noticed and will take you a long way. Nice manners and polished social skills will enable you to sail through tight spots and hairy moments with confidence and humour. If you suspect you’re a little rough around the edges or you feel awkward when it comes to etiquette, do a night course or ask your mentor to coach you.

Develop your interpersonal skills. Many a career has been built on personal charm and charisma.  These attributes can be developed because they mostly derive from confidence. Confidence comes from feeling good about certain aspects of you – not necessarily the entire package. Having a wonderful speaking voice, a good sense of humour, or the ability to make people feel comfortable in your presence or to convincingly pitch an idea are all skills worth developing.

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