Here's how you can distinguish yourself from your peers and secure a promotion as a leader.
In the competitive world of leadership, climbing the career ladder requires more than just meeting expectations; it demands that you stand out from your peers. To secure a promotion and advance as a leader, you need to demonstrate exceptional skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive results. This article explores practical ways to distinguish yourself and position for a leadership promotion.
To distinguish yourself, embrace a vision that goes beyond the day-to-day tasks. Leaders who secure promotions are those who can see the bigger picture and align their team's efforts with the company's long-term goals. Show that you understand where the industry is headed and how your role and your team can contribute to that future. By communicating this vision effectively, you demonstrate foresight and strategic thinking—key qualities of a promotable leader.
-
Dr Cliff Robertson, Jr
Guiding Executives into Becoming the Greatest Leaders | Keynote Speaker | Corporate Trainer | Author | Leadership & Mental Health Expert |
When you are working your way up from the bottom, having a vision that creates motivation is important but motivation isn’t enough. It needs to be so compelling that it creates a desire to stay the course, which goes beyond motivation, to discipline and resilience. This requires a vision that we can embrace!
-
Gene Lunger
Summit Executive Consulting LLC - Business Leadership - Executive and Personal Coach - Keynote Speaker 🎤
Embrace, communicate, and then over-communicate the organizational vision. You can’t do this if you don’t deeply believe in it. High level positions are not gifts, they are (costly!) rewards for a deep level of commitment, almost over the top. “Every business needs a few fanatics…” is common at the top. So before you decide you really want that promotion make sure your personal values and moral code is fully aligned with the organization. This true commitment allows you to be fully authentic in how you share/reshare/reinforce the vision. Your support of the BRAND and all of its implications will absolutely facilitate moving higher in the organizations structure. Be sure that’s what you want, as it gets pretty intense the further up you go.
Building strong relationships within your organization is crucial. Connect with peers, subordinates, and superiors alike, fostering a network of support and collaboration. By being approachable and willing to lend a hand, you not only become a go-to person but also build a reputation as someone who works well with others. These interpersonal skills are vital for leadership roles, as they often require cross-departmental cooperation and team management.
-
Michał Parkoła
Engineering Manager / Entrepreneur
Build a habit of always improving your understanding what is most important for people. Use the following three methods: 1) Listen - with the intent to understand, not to reply. Let them paint a picture of their mental landscape. 2) Ask - ask directly whenever the opportunity arises "What is most important for you now?" 3) Observe - see the context, see what people actually do, see how the environment influences them. If you build up this 3-part habit you'll become much better at building relationships (instead of weakening them through actions that do not respect what is most important for your co-workers).
-
Grace Jacob
SAP - ERP, Success Factors | Advanced Excel | Training & Development | Data Management | Data Analysis | Reporting
Building relationships could be as simple as greeting your colleagues with a smile as you pass by them each day. That usually breaks the ice with the new joiners, makes it easier for peers to approach for any required support, enhances the collaborative attitude in the organisation, also inculcates a healthy learning culture, which boosts the personality of each employee, along with their career growth.
-
Tanya Thorson
Cross-Functional Company Champion in an Omnichannel World | Strategic Marketing & Product Executive | Transforming Consumer Experiences & Driving Sustainable Growth in B2C & B2B Environments | Advisor
Building strong relationships within your organization is essential. Engage with peers, subordinates, and superiors to foster a supportive and collaborative network. For instance, at Network Perception, I led cross-functional teams to optimize product portfolios and drive new customer acquisition. Sometimes, these connections extend beyond work, creating a more cohesive and motivated team. By being approachable and willing to assist, you become a valuable resource and build a reputation for effective teamwork. These interpersonal skills are crucial for leadership roles, which often demand cross-departmental cooperation and team management.
Outstanding leaders are defined by their ability to deliver results. Take on challenging projects that have a significant impact on the business and see them through to completion. Your ability to consistently meet or exceed targets and solve complex problems will showcase your competence. Furthermore, quantifiable achievements provide tangible proof of your value to the organization, making a strong case for your promotion.
-
Gene Lunger
Summit Executive Consulting LLC - Business Leadership - Executive and Personal Coach - Keynote Speaker 🎤
The toughest assignments you ever get carry the greatest opportunity. Better to be a builder that fixes chaos than someone who is rattled with a lack of process and structure. I’ve seen many executives avoid the “bad” or really tough projects. Usually, they don’t want to be connected to a “failure” so they avoid the risk. Taking these challenges on and handling them builds your business reputation as someone who executes, GSD, makes things happen. Execution (and RESULTS) in the face of adversity grows you, your capacity, and your runway. It’s okay to be nervous or afraid - action in spite of that is called courage and it fortifies your executive profile. So, take the toughest jobs and find a way.
-
Dr Cliff Robertson, Jr
Guiding Executives into Becoming the Greatest Leaders | Keynote Speaker | Corporate Trainer | Author | Leadership & Mental Health Expert |
In my experience if you make your boss look like a hero, he/she will reciprocate. It’s called leading without a title and you do this by doing the things that no one else wants to do and turning the mundane into something extraordinary. When you deliver the results, the results will deliver you to the next level.
-
Dr Cliff Robertson, Jr
Guiding Executives into Becoming the Greatest Leaders | Keynote Speaker | Corporate Trainer | Author | Leadership & Mental Health Expert |
In my experience if you make your boss look like a hero, he/she will reciprocate. It’s called leading without a title and you do this by doing the things that no one else wants to do and turning the mundane into something extraordinary. When you deliver the results, the results will deliver you to the next level.
-
Tanya Thorson
Cross-Functional Company Champion in an Omnichannel World | Strategic Marketing & Product Executive | Transforming Consumer Experiences & Driving Sustainable Growth in B2C & B2B Environments | Advisor
One quality of outstanding leaders are defined by their ability to deliver results. Embrace challenging projects that significantly impact the business and ensure their successful completion. For example, at Jockey International, We led a team to develop new business strategies for the TARGET account we managed and added to our account portfolio resulting in substantial incremental revenue growth. These achievements highlight not only your competence but also your ability to foster an inclusive environment where all voices matter. Amplified results come from a team that feels valued and heard, making a strong case for your promotion.
Innovation is the lifeblood of any thriving business. To stand out, encourage creative thinking within your team and don't be afraid to take calculated risks. Leaders who promote innovation demonstrate their commitment to progress and their ability to adapt to changing markets. By fostering an environment where new ideas are welcomed and tested, you position yourself as a forward-thinking leader ready for more responsibility.
-
Tanya Thorson
Cross-Functional Company Champion in an Omnichannel World | Strategic Marketing & Product Executive | Transforming Consumer Experiences & Driving Sustainable Growth in B2C & B2B Environments | Advisor
During my time at Jockey International, we were striving to expand our market reach and appeal to a younger demographic. I encouraged my team to think outside the box and come up with innovative strategies. One of the ideas was to launch a limited-edition line of eco-friendly apparel, leveraging sustainable materials and modern designs. This was a new direction for us, involving significant investment and a departure from our traditional products. Despite the risks, I championed the project. The initiative not only attracted a younger audience but also boosted our brand's reputation for sustainability.This experience highlighted the power of fostering innovation and taking calculated risks to drive business growth and market differentiation
-
Hashim Wafa
Founding Partner, Legacy Partners | Protecting Creativity & Intellectual Assets Globally | Driving Legal Success in Corporate Transactions | Commercial & Intellectual Property Lawyer | Associate Company Secretary (CS)
Encouraging innovation is not just about embracing new ideas but also about creating a safe space for experimentation. When team members feel supported in taking calculated risks, they are more likely to think creatively and push boundaries. This approach not only drives progress but also cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability
A leader's success is often reflected in their ability to develop talent within their team. Take an active role in mentoring and coaching your colleagues, helping them to grow professionally. By investing in the development of others, you not only strengthen your team but also show that you have the capacity to lead larger groups. This commitment to talent development is a clear indication of leadership potential and readiness for advancement.
-
Olivia Rutman, CTP
Founder | Innovator | Speaker | Leader | Childcare Expert | Top 40 Under 40 | 3x Boy Mom | CEO at Kids Care Finder
Develop talent and deliver results go hand in hand for me. You have to deliver results to stand out, but since you are a leader, you are doing that by developing talent to deliver those results vs delivering on initiatives yourself. You may contribute, but it needs to be about what your employees accomplish vs you personally. You have to show how you supported and enabled them to achieve high results and success, and showcase what you collectively delivered on as a team. I also think the more of your employees who got recognized, promoted, or selected for professional development opportunities is a big tell vs just how many tasks/ projects they accomplished.
-
Michał Parkoła
Engineering Manager / Entrepreneur
This is a big hurdle for talented contributors I've worked with. Many of them rather just focus on their own work. One thing that helped is framing it in terms of becoming a multiplier. If you're doing your job well, you're an adder. You add value proportional to your effort. To advance past some point it helps to become a multiplier i.e. to have a clear positive impact on the results of other people. We considered two main paths: 1) helping organize work for your team (broadly speaking - becoming a manager) 2) becoming an expert leader i.e. sharing useful knowledge so well that many others use it to improve their work
Finally, the best leaders are those who reflect on their experiences and adapt accordingly. Continuously seek feedback on your performance and be prepared to make changes to improve. This shows a level of self-awareness and a commitment to personal growth that is essential for higher leadership roles. By being adaptable and open to learning, you prove that you are not only capable of leading in the current climate but also prepared for future challenges.
-
Grace Jacob
SAP - ERP, Success Factors | Advanced Excel | Training & Development | Data Management | Data Analysis | Reporting
Continuous learning and applying them into your work with an objective to enhance the role and your personality helps in your peers seeing the quality of your contribution to the business, which also differentiates you from your peers.
-
Michał Parkoła
Engineering Manager / Entrepreneur
Successful people are action-driven. They tend not to fall victim to analysis paralysis. But boldly charging ever forward has it's risks. It's also useful to do some: 1) intentional planning 2) honest reflection To do that in a concise way good questions are key. I recommend the following ones: P1) And what would you like to have happen? Be concrete: what will you be able to see or hear? P2) And what will happen then? (hint: ask this instead of "Why?") R1) What went well? How can you repeat, amplify or combine it with something else)? Contrary to a common habit it's important to start with the positive because otherwise why waste time improving it at all?
-
J.D. Meier
High-Performance, Innovation & Leadership Coach | 25 years of Microsoft | Former head coach for CEO Satya Nadella’s innovation team | On a mission to upskill 1M+ leaders with better, faster innovation with AI.
You only secure a promotion when your manager's peer's support your promotion. Find out any objections and nail them, and of course, have a sponsor. You stand out with your brand by solving big business challenges in a competent way with visibility and value. Give your work or initiative or project a simple and sticky name that people can remember and refer to. Sometimes your brand will be the "thing" you did, other times, it will be just you. And if you build your brand well, you can create the Midas Touch. Think in terms of portfolio you want to be proud of with great experiences, great adventures, with great people.
-
John Benning
Director, Engineering and Continuous Improvement at Hughson Nut -ofi
Get to know your business and your role quickly and thoroughly. Your level of technical expertise, when gained quickly, and a clear understanding of how your functions relate to others within your organization is a great way to differentiate yourself from your peers. Use your knowledge to make improvements, make the jobs and tasks of your teams easier to execute, and the connections and transitions between your function and the incoming and outgoing parts seamless. You’ll be recognized and rewarded for it.
Rate this article
More relevant reading
-
LeadershipWhat do you do if you want to stand out as a top contender for a leadership promotion?
-
Large Group FacilitationYou're a manager with a team to lead. How can you identify the potential leaders among them?
-
Job Search StrategiesHere's how you can develop the key qualities of a successful leader in today's job market.
-
Business OperationsHere's how you can showcase your leadership skills to boost your promotion prospects.