Climbing Higher: How to Transition from Mid-Level to Executive-Level Roles

Making the transition from a mid-level management roles to an executive-level role can be an exciting but challenging milestone. C-suite positions have plenty of appeal; they typically come with a larger scope of work, higher expectations, and an increased salary, and have the potential to influence significant change, strategy, and culture at a company-wide level.

However, you find yourself being passed over for that much-needed promotion, or you feel you’ve stagnated or are “stuck” in the same role, making this jump to seniority can start to feel miles away. Plateauing can often happen for mid-career professionals, particularly after a quick advancement to senior management, or when a C-suite job is only one or two promotions away. If you are a professional and your career is at a standstill, but you still want to take that next step, read on to learn all about ways to transition from mid-level to executive-level roles.

Leverage development opportunities

If it’s not already known, let your workplace see your determination to climb the ladder by taking advantage of company leadership development programs. These programs are often designed to help mid-level managers transition into more senior roles, and can help build your skills in team leadership, strategic thinking, conflict resolution, change management, and financial literacy.

If your place of work does not have any formal programs in place, you might want to consider online courses and workshops that align with your goals. For example, if you are in the healthcare sector and are ready for a bigger role, online BSN to DNP programs can help you make the leap into healthcare leadership skills. Likewise, if you are in a general management role, you could consider taking courses designed to augment your skills at reputed universities like Harvard. Taking on any of these types of development opportunities demonstrates you are serious about moving up within the organization.

Create meaningful relationships

The world of C-Suite roles is an interesting one. Generally, openings for roles in the realm of Chief Financial Officer, Chief Technology Officer, or Chief Marketing Officer are not advertised online. This means that unless you have an inside connection, there is no way to know about any opportunities that arise, and you will not be able to apply.

This dilemma underscores the importance of fostering meaningful relationships throughout your career. At higher levels, it becomes abundantly clear that moving up can often be about who you know, rather than what you know. It is therefore crucial for you to build a solid network, both within and outside your industry, and with people in various roles.

Connecting with people on LinkedIn is a great starting point. Attending events designed to network can also help to build relationships with like-minded professionals. Doing this can also get you access to unique opportunities and solid advice that can help you scale up your career.

Consider getting a mentor

Mentorship can be career-defining at every level, including when trying to break into a C-suite position. A good mentor can help provide expert guidance, build confidence, expand your professional network, provide strategic career advice, and, most importantly, accelerate your learning.

Getting a C-suite position mentor can be challenging if you do not have an existing relationship with them, so you may need to set your sights lower to start with. When on the hunt, you should first define your specific goals before identifying potential mentors within your existing network. If you do not have anyone suitable, consider industry events where mentoring is encouraged, or online communities or platforms that foster mentoring relationships.

Practice your executive presence

Executives have a presence, you know what we are talking about. It’s an air of confidence, authority, and leadership, and practicing these skills can help you work towards joining their ranks.

If you want to demonstrate your capability, show your business that you can be a trusted leader during challenging times. This can be done through simple acts like:

• Leading a meeting or volunteering to host company-wide events to show your ability to manage people or processes effectively.
• Presenting to higher executives or to a board to demonstrate confidence and composure.
• Demonstrating decisiveness and offering a calm presence during challenging times to show you can think critically during high-pressure moments.
• Always practicing active listening, which shows respect to others and the ability to take on the thoughts or ideas of others.

Strengthen your strategic thinking

You practice strategic thinking throughout your daily life. What will I have for breakfast to give me the right energy today? Making sure you get enough sleep to be the sharpest you can be for work.

Mid-level management roles are often required to manage teams of people or projects, meaning their focus is on execution. When you reach executive-level roles, however, your thinking must shift from an execution mindset to a strategic one.

This means understanding the company’s short and long-term goals, and how every daily task affects the bottom line. It also means knowing how every decision is made by managers and other key decision-makers and how it ties into the company’s vision and culture.

Taking advantage of opportunities to practice strategic thinking now can set you up for later success. Talk to your current manager about being on projects that can challenge you in this manner, or consider a lateral role change to something that requires strategic thinking to help hone your skills.

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Know it may take time

Taking the next step into an executive-level role will change both your scope of work and the way you approach it. Your decisions have the potential to impact hundreds of employees, and you will become reliant on other experienced professionals, as well as yourself, to make things happen.

Making the transition into this new role is unlikely to happen instantly. However, with consistent effort, actively seeking out development opportunities, forming meaningful connections, and honing your strategic thinking skills, you increase your chances of reaching that goal sooner than expected. Keep following your plan and stay committed.