Grow. Hope. Push the boundaries.

Making it to the top is the dream for many.  Right now, you might be stuck ordering coffees when you’d much rather be the CEO.  Or you’re printing copies, running between managers, and taking minutes for those who are too busy.

Too many are overlooked or overworked with unchallenging administrivia and never make it – but you have to start somewhere.  I’m going to explore how to make it, especially for those with the talent, ambition and drive to make it to the top.

Progressing a career from the backdoor to the boardroom won’t happen by sitting there being busy and organised and waiting for someone to notice. You can be trapped in the adminisphere for what seems like ever – wanting and waiting to get out.

Change will not happen unless you are the driver.

You need to set your own goals.

Take responsibility for achieving them. Don’t wake up and say I’m going to be the manager in six months. Initiate discussion with your boss or supervisor.  They should provide you with some ideas and thoughts on what goals you should be setting and how to work towards management.  If you are  stuck at a dead end, think about secondment to another section,  and ask for ideas for upskilling.    Creative ways to start working on your talents and to achieving goals might come through investigating the Personal MBA.  The Personal MBA is all about reading great business  and what I’d call ‘Thinking Man’s’ books and taking time for yourself to learn and become wise.  There are a lot of inspirations found within the Personal MBA site, and the 2009 list of books is just out.  Even just reading a few will have you thinking in different directions than before.  Use it to make a change.

Think about the role you want.   Put yourself in a decision-maker’s shoes.   What would you bring to the role?   What do you need to learn for the role?  The oft-suggested mentor might come in handy here.  If you can find someone who has the job you want or a role model who is willing to talk with you it will be valuable.  There are a number of life coaches and online forums for this too.  Consider the role and think about if you can handle the additional pressures and stresses that come with it.

Keep motivated.  You’ll probably need to work smarter and harder than before.  Early starts and late nights with the odd weekend thrown in are typical.  If you don’t want this added responsibility, consider what you really want.  Look for ways to do better.  Evaluate yourself and regularly debrief after projects to see what could’ve been done better. Consult those in and around the project to find out what worked and what didn’t.  Keep those improvements in mind.

Don’t try to work harder and faster and work yourself into the ground.  Leo Babuta of Zen Habits believes in simple productivity.  A number of posts on his blog are devoted to work life balance, working smarter, productivity boosts and ways to avoid stress.  I find I can visit Zen Habits and come away with a clear head and generally a feeling of empowerment.

Live the change.  Become a man of action.

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