Looking to get promoted? You MUST have these 3 skills

Making the move from a junior or mid-level role to the senior ranks is one of the biggest challenges you will face in your career. 

Aside from the fact that there are fewer roles at the next level and everyone wants to move up (making it like some sort of Career Hunger Games), we often don’t actually know what is required to move to those more senior levels.

Most people THINK they know what is required. 

But the majority of people get it wrong.

People looking to get promoted tell me:

‘I need to gain more skills and experience’

Here is what they actually need:

To THINK like a senior leader

The difference between a junior/mid-level and a senior leader is not hard skills. 

It is soft skills. 

Here are 3 most important soft skills you need to nail before you can make that move up:

1. Thinking about the business, not just your role

Junior people focus only on what they need to deliver. Senior people have a view across the whole business.

If you want to move to the higher ranks, you need to understand the broader strategic context of the work you and your team do and be able to think about the bigger picture. You have to be able to think outside of your little corner of the business.

2. Confidence and Gravitas

Senior leaders have a much bigger influence on the business than junior people and as a result they must have the confidence to sit at the table with the top people.

It’s not about age or years experience. It’s about having the gravitas to go toe-to-toe with other senior people and hold your own. It’s not easy. But is so important.

3. Team leadership

Most senior leaders will have direct reports. And even if they don’t, they will still have an influence over the wider teams in the business. For this reason, you need to be a strong team leader.

Leadership is not telling your team what to do. It is about knowing how to get the best out of your team and how to create an environment where they can do their best work.

It also means having the strength and confidence to advocate for them in the wider business - which also requires confidence and gravitas.

If you are looking to make the move up, you need to be able to demonstrate these soft skills. 

Why not start trying them out in your current role?

You don’t have to be asked to practice these skills. You can start doing it today. And this will exponentially increase your chances of securing one of the few senior roles that exist in our industry.