I’ve worked in many diverse organisations and seen women in leadership roles across both middle and senior management right on the cusp of promotion. They are brilliant and dynamic women, have done all the “right” things, believe this is their time – they land the interview and then don’t get across the line. It’s hard to watch, and even harder to be on the receiving end of this cycle.
My belief is many of the “right things” we believe will land us the Next Big Thing are old and tired ways of getting to the top – there are new approaches we can take to develop ourselves and sharpen our chances for that Next Big Thing.
Curious Leadership
It doesn’t matter how long you have been in your role or your organisation – you may think you know everybody and everything, but you don’t. Stay curious. When you are in meetings and conversations, and you hear a word or term you don’t truly understand, go and find out what it means.
– Unsure what the supply chain really is?
– Do you nod when you hear financial terms used but you don’t really understand what they mean or how they impact the business – go and study them.
Take 10 minutes in your week to research or ask someone in your organisation about it – colleagues will want to share their knowledge with you as it makes their work and them feel valued. Then challenge yourself the following week to use that new word or term you have used in your own meetings – it’s a very simple way to broaden your experience and knowledge and it builds your executive presence all at the same time.
Conversations like this really matter; Alison Wood Brooks is a professor at Harvard Business School and the author of TALK: The Science Of Conversation And The Art Of Being Ourselves; a book that really gives practical advice and insights into how to do this with ease. Read more in The Surprising Power of Questions.
Shared Leadership
Don’t be shy about reaching out to the CEO or senior executive team and asking for their time. Tell them you want to tap into their knowledge and ask advice on what they see are the biggest challenges and opportunities ahead for their organisation – share that you want to land that next big thing and ask if they would share how they would go about it. This form of shared leadership is a powerful way to build relationships and visibility with people who have influence.
– Side note: don’t be scared to use this approach to other organisations / leaders you admire.
I know a first-time CEO in New Zealand, who reached out to many influential and high-level CEOs at the global level to ask for mentorship, and I was amazed at how many positive responses and opportunities she received.
Confident Leadership
We have all seen it – the men who waltz around the office telling everyone, especially in earshot of the boss, how much work they are doing. As women we need to get smarter about this and have the confidence to share our achievements. Don’t just be the person who puts their head down and diligently gets on with it… the only reward you receive for this is more work.
Action Step: To land the next role or promotion, let your manager know your wins for the week.
– It doesn’t have to be done in an icky way – it can be popping your head into your manager’s office to say, “I’ve really enjoyed working on the digital transformation project this week and the live dashboards I’ve created for real-time data are really going to benefit us all – have a great weekend”.
If we aren’t willing to sing our own virtues, no one else will and it can be done in an authentic and conversational way. Read more in Visibility Vs Resilient Leaders – this brilliant article by resilience strategist and co-founder of Whisper & Thread Luisa Hogan provides a great framework for how to lead in this space without losing your core values.
Invested Leadership
Lastly, when it does come time for the job interview – prepare. Invest the time and money into a leadership/executive coach to support your interview preparation so you walk in confident of your ability to answer the questions.
– No matter if you know your role and organisation backwards, having to answer questions in a pressurized environment is challenging for everyone but knowing proper formulas and approaches of how to handle situations such as this will give you the edge to land that next big thing.
Just remember, you can lead yourself to that next big thing. Don’t give up – we all know as smart thriving leaders that rejection is redirection. Stay curious, ask others to share their insights and time, be confident in the start value you add and invest in yourself.
Action Step: The Next Big Thing is Yours.
Name: Sarah Manley
Professional Title: Chief Executive Officer
Bio: Hi, I’m Sarah, a purpose-driven executive, and CEO of a children’s mental health charity. I proudly bring people and purpose together to drive meaningful change. Whether I’m leading organisations through cashflow challenges, restructures, or complex stakeholder environments, it’s always with clarity, conviction, commercialism, energy, and heart.
