What do these people have in common?
Marissa Mayer – Yahoo
Meg Whitman – Hewlett-Packard
Patricia Woertz – Archer Daniels Midland
Indra Nooyi – PepsiCo
Pam Nicholson – Enterprise Holdings
They’re all women, of course. And they’re also all CEOs. Beyond that they’re very different, except for one important thing: Once they were in a situation just like the one you’re in now.
At some point in their career, each of those successful women had to decide if she wanted to commit herself to the time and effort to rise to the C-Suite. It’s a big commitment. Before you make it, here are some things to think about.
Believe in Yourself
Great career success starts with believing in yourself. Believe that you can make a difference, you can be successful, and you can have an impact.
Sometimes it’s hard to maintain that belief in the face of the skepticism of others. That’s why most successful people develop a way to boost their spirits when things get hard.
One way is to keep a file of past triumphs, especially ones where other people doubted you. Read through it when your faith in yourself needs a boost.
Be Realistic about the Challenge
Believing in yourself is important, but you have to be realistic about what’s ahead. Here are three things we know for sure.
Attaining the C-Suite is a huge challenge for anyone, regardless of gender or talent. It’s much more like a career change than a job change and it won’t be easy. There will be lots of long days, lots of time away from your loved ones, and lots of hard work.
It will be harder for you than for most men. That’s just a fact. Pundits can debate the whys and the fixes, but that won’t matter for you in the next few years. You will try to achieve your career goals in a world where it’s harder for women than for men to reach the C-Suite most of the time.
A strong support system is vital. No one makes it to the top on their own. You’ll want support from people in the company and the industry. You’ll need family and friends who support you through the tough spots.
Assess Yourself
Make some realistic assessments of who you are, what you’re good at and what you want to achieve. Formal assessments can help you get a clear picture of yourself. So can asking yourself questions like the ones below:
What kind of career pattern appeals to me? Not everyone wants to attain the C-Suite. Some people prefer the challenge of mastering their profession. Others simply prefer a succession of interesting work assignments. If you imagine leadership as your calling, the C-Suite may be for you, but make sure.
What kind of workplace appeals to me? Do you prefer a company where efficiency is the critical value? What about customer service or product innovation?
Am I a pioneer by temperament? There was a time when every woman in business was a pioneer. Some women love the challenge of being the “first.” Is that you? If it’s not, you may want to choose an industry and company where other women have already paved the way.
What’s my idea of an ideal life? Think about what’s important to you and what you value.
Define a Career Vision
Refine the thinking you’ve done so far. What kind of career do you want? Your vision should align with what holds meaning for you. What kind of life do you want to look back on?
What’s Stopping You?
Identify the barriers preventing you from achieving your goals. They can be inside you or outside.
Fear is a significant barrier for many women. Ask yourself the question Sheryl Sandberg first asked in a commencement address at Barnard: “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”
To get to the C-Suite, you will need to take on assignments that involve risk. Marla Kaplowitz, CEO of MEC North America advises women to take more risks because they provide learning and growth experiences. And handling tough assignments are part of how you earn your way to the C-Suite.
What about outside? What things in your company may keep you from the success you desire? You will have to overcome every barrier you identify or find a way to work around it.
Create and Implement a Development Plan
Now it’s time to plan for how you will pursue the next chapter in your career and life. You’ve assessed yourself, defined a career vision, and identified barriers you need to deal with.
Do you need to make any big changes? Do you need to change bosses, companies, industries or professional specialty so your vision can become your reality?
Plan to develop the skills that will take you to the next level. At every step some skills will become more important. Think about what skills you will need two levels above your current position. Plan to develop those skills before you need them.
Coaching and mentoring are the catalysts that add power and velocity to the process. Even if your company provides coaching for you, you should consider investing in coaching to develop the specific skills you will need as you rise in the organization.
Consider developing or joining a support group of women with similar goals and challenges. Dr. Jesse Lyn Stoner described her “5 Around” group as:
“a group of high level executives and consultants with the intent of using each other as resources to address the challenges we were facing in leading organizations”
Schedule time for development and reviews. If you don’t put regular reviews on your calendar, they may not get done and your progress will lag. Schedule this first every week when you plan your calendar. Think of them as an appointment with your success.
Start Thinking and Acting Like a C-suite Now
Once you decide that the C-Suite is for you commit yourself to it. Beginning today start thinking and acting like a C-Suite executive.
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