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How to develop a successful management career by Dato’ Aziz Salleh

1. STRIVE TO PERFORM WELL CONSISTENTLY

I actually don’t have to expand on this point. This is the first golden rule. All of us know how crucial this factor is if we want to develop and advance our careers. Good work performance is paramount for managerial success but at the same time, it is insufficient to guarantee success. From my observation, many marginal performers may be rewarded in the immediate short term but their weaknesses are exposed eventually, curtailing their career advancement abruptly. Your good work and diligence is no guarantee of success, but without it, a successful management career is unlikely.

2. PUT UP AN APPROPRIATE IMAGE AND STAY VISIBLE

Some people feel this is not important but I feel otherwise. The ability to align your image with that sought by the organisation will always be interpreted positively by those in power. You must assess your organisation’s culture so that you can determine what it wants and values. Then you project that image in your personal demeanour and attitude. At times, evaluation for managerial effectiveness can be subjective. Therefore, it is important that your boss and those in power be made aware of your contributions. Do not be a lone wolf-you won’t make it alone.

3. BE AWARE AND MAKE USE OF THE POWER STRUCTURE

Don’t rely on the organisation chart too much, it is only half of the story. The organisation chart only explains half of influence pattern in your organisation. It is of greater importance to know and understand the organisation’s power structure. You need to learn who is really in charge and who is pulling the strings. Once you have this knowledge, you can work within the power structure with more skill and ease.

4. ALWAYS STAY IN THE WINNERS’ CIRCLE

If you hang around with the losers you will end up being a loser yourself. I have seen this happen all the time. You must stay in the winners’ circle. Associate with people who are winners, people who are positive and high spirited as they can motivate and energise you. Associate with colleagues who stabilisise the organisation, not with the ones who destabilise it. Spot the winners and ride on them.

5. GET A MENTOR

It is very evident to me that employees who want to move up need the guidance, assistance and advocacy of someone higher in the organisation. Career progressions often require the favour of the dominant in-group that sets the corporate goals, priorities and standards. Find an influential mentor who can direct, advise, critise, and nurture your career growth and development. Having a mentor is like having a good support system.

6. ALWAYS SUPPORT YOUR BOSS

Do I need to say more? Your boss, more than anyone else, has the greatest influence on your career. Be supportive of your boss. If your boss succeeds so would you. The last thing you would want to do is to undermine your boss because sooner or later he will find out. If this happens it may sour your relationship with him. Speak to your boss directly. Bosses nowadays must have the guts to face staff squarely on any matter, if he doesn’t have the courage he should step aside.

7. LEARN FROM FAILURES

There will be times in your career when you have to face setbacks and failures. This is when you need to do an honest post-mortem on yourself. The easiest thing to do is to blame the system and all that is around you. However, in most cases, failures are largely self-inflicted. We must learn to be aware of our own shortcomings, pick up the pieces and look ahead and accept failure as part and parcel of our learning curve. At times, to move a step forward we may need to take two steps backwards.

8. ITS TIME TO THINK LATERALLY

Lateral thinking merely acknowledges the changing world of management. In recent years, restructurings and downsizings have limited the promotion opportunities in many organisations. To survive in this environment, we must think in terms of lateral career moves. Before, a lateral move is considered a demotion but not any more. Lateral shifts are now a viable career consideration as it not only energises you but it also widens your experiences and enhances your long-term mobility in the organisation.

9. IMPROVE AND UPDATE YOUR SKILLS

More and more now, organisations need employees who can readily adapt to the new business demands. While we focus on our current skills we must also pick new skills that can establish our value to the organisation. It is the employees who don’t add value to the organisation whose jobs and career advancement are in jeopardy. Our employability largely rests with us and not with the organisation.

10. NETWORK FOR SUCCESS

My final suggestion is based on the recognition that a network of friends, colleagues, neighbours, customers, suppliers and so on can be a useful tool for career development. If you spend some time cultivating relationships and contacts throughout your industry and community, you’ll be prepared if your current job is eliminated. Even if your job is in no danger of being cut, a network can prove beneficial in getting things done.

These 10 pointers are situations we can create and control whilst we chart our career growth. Even if we can realise them all we still have to contend with 2 other factors which are largely beyond our control. They are timing and luck and in life we need regular dosages of timing and luck. Oddly enough, timing and luck seem to favour those who are always trying and never giving up.