SmartPulse — our weekly nonscientific reader poll in SmartBrief on Leadership — tracks feedback from more than 190,000 business leaders. We run the poll question each week in our e-newsletter.
Last week, we asked: How prepared are you to lead at the next level of responsibility (e.g., manager to director)?
- Very prepared — I’m already performing at the next level: 42.22%
- Prepared — I’m ready to step up to the challenge: 38.9%
- Not quite prepared — I still have a lot of growth to do at this level: 16.28%
- Not at all prepared — I’d be clueless at the next level: 2.59%
Are you ready to step up? About 80% of you feel you’re ready to move up to the next level of responsibility. What’s important to understand is whether those around you believe you’re ready. Your boss, your team, your customers/partners and other stakeholders all need to see you behaving and performing at that next level. It’s not enough for you to believe it (and in many cases, do it) — others around you must share that assessment. Seek out those opportunities to step into leadership roles at the next level and let others see what you can do. Their perceptions are the key to your advancement.
Mike Figliuolo is managing director of thoughtLEADERS and author of “One Piece of Paper: The Simple Approach to Powerful, Personal Leadership.”