Suick Lure Company continues to land the lunkers
Paving the way for the next generation of truck drivers
October 19, 2022
Organizations can benefit from a well-planned leadership succession.
There are a myriad of decisions to be made in preparation for the exit of a seasoned leader and the introduction of someone else who is new to the role, and it’s a good idea they are made in the right order and by the right people.
A great deal of time and attention should be appropriately paid to the current leader’s outbound timeline, the selection of the ideal successor and the creation of a suitable transition plan.
In the best circumstances, the ideal successor is a leader who works within the organization and already models leadership behaviors and practices that represent the culture and values of the company.
Here are a few tips on how up-and-coming leaders can position themselves to be selected as an ideal successor:
Exceed expectations
To be considered for a promotion, first and foremost, you should exceed the expectations of your current role.
It is particularly unlikely you will be asked to take a new position with more responsibility if you are not fulfilling your current responsibilities.
If you take the quality of your work seriously by modeling a solid work ethic and consistently outstanding performance, people within the company are more apt to take your career aspirations seriously.
While it is important you model effective leadership skills in your current role, you might also look for opportunities beyond your role to lead groups, projects and initiatives.
Wherever possible, focus on solving problems or initiating positive changes to improve processes, systems or practices within the organization.
People who work diligently to help a company become more efficient, profitable or culturally healthy tend to get noticed.
Actively pursue growth and development
If you are already doing great work and optimizing opportunities to shine in your current role, what else can you do to become the ideal successor?
Make your aspirations known – People cannot read your mind and likely won’t pick up on hints or subtle overtures. Let your leader, human resources and/or other key leaders know of your desire to grow with the company. Be willing to toot your own horn with the appropriate balance of drive and humility, and ask for feedback to help you focus your professional development efforts in the right areas.
Put time and energy into building relationships with your peers, leaders and people from other areas of the company – Your ability to build fruitful relationships with others indicates you are likely capable of working well with others. Additionally, those relationships offer you insights into the company from a variety of perspectives, broadening your knowledge about the work of the organization and expanding your ability to make wise business decisions.
Pursue academic credentials that prepare you for the position(s) you desire – Degrees and certifications indicate you are focused, goal-oriented and willing to put the necessary effort into obtaining the job(s) you want.
Gain knowledge and learn skills by participating in company-sponsored training – This demonstrates an interest in and appreciation for the investment the organization makes in its people. Also, it provides valuable opportunities for you to network with coworkers at internal training programs or other ambitious professionals at external training events.
Engage a coach or seek a mentor – This can be done formally by hiring a coach or engaging in a structured mentor relationship, or it can be done informally by asking a successful leader whom you admire to meet with you regularly to help you navigate your career. Some organizations invest in professional coaches for leaders, but, if not, seasoned leaders are usually flattered when up-and-coming talent asks for their guidance and mentorship.
Keep reading – In fact, never stop reading. There are a plethora of books on professional development, leadership, executive leadership and other relevant business topics. Continued exploration of new ideas through reading will expand your thinking, challenge your point of view, and sharpen your discernment. It may also give you context for business topics that are currently outside the scope of your role, as well as clever book recommendations for those who may benefit from what you have read.
Join networking groups or associations that are relevant to your industry or leadership aspirations – While some companies pay for membership fees for formal networking groups, there are other networking groups that offer free membership or networking events with minimal fees. These groups and associations provide participants with a chance to learn from others, build useful professional relationships, and be exposed to a variety of discussions or presenters.
The correct combination of professional development activities is unique to each person and situation.
In an ideal environment, I would recommend you do them all.
Realistically, though, you may need to choose the items from the list above that are most useful to you and put your time and energy toward them with vigor.
Terri Jacke is the founder and President of Inspired Training Institute, Inc., an executive coaching and organizational development firm, and author of Is This a Lousy Job or Is It Me?: A Real-Life Guide for Achieving Success at Work.
