What’s the Best Advice You’ve Ever Received?
This question comes up often during fireside chats and interviews, and it was the final question I was asked during my keynote at the Sigma Kappa 2024 Convention a few months ago. Picture this: a room of 800 sorority sisters buzzing with energy and anticipation. The pressure was on to deliver something impactful that would resonate and make a difference. Three words came out of my mouth:
Ditch the ladder.
When I graduated college, my goal was to climb the corporate ladder, rung by rung, until I reached the C-suite. While that did happen, it wasn’t a straight path. And shortly after I got to the C-Suite, I switched to a more entrepreneurial path. And guess what? I’m still growing.
The ladder concept is problematic because it implies that the only way to grow in your career is by getting promoted—by moving up the ladder.
Just last week, a young woman reached out to me, worried. She had been in her role for over a year and didn't receive a promotion at her annual performance review. She went into that review confident that a promotion was in the bag, so she was devastated when it didn't happen.
We talked about how, yes, getting a promotion is wonderful, but there are also countless ways to grow in your current role. Here are some of the things we discussed, and by leaning into one or two of these, you're investing in yourself and your career (and, I promise, good things will happen):
Learning new skills will qualify you for roles that may have been previously out of reach.
Expanding your network and community can lead to new collaborations, insights, and opportunities (even if they are not immediate).
Doing world-class work makes you more marketable.
Building your personal brand sets you apart and makes you a go-to.
Access to incredible mentors leads to guidance and inspiration that will help you make intentional choices.
Being in the room where decisions are made can increase your influence and understanding of the bigger picture (and give you an opportunity to observe the thought process of senior leaders, which is priceless).
So, the next time you start worrying about that promotion, take a step back and reflect on how you’re growing in your current role. Do any of the above resonate with you? Or maybe it's something else altogether?
Adopting a more expansive view of career growth can alleviate that promotion pressure and help you create a fulfilling and beautiful career.
Ditch the ladder. And remember, there is more than one way to grow.
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