Many of us hope to accelerate our careers, but what does it take for us to do so? According to a 10 year study analyzing over 17,000 C-suite executives, it reveals that those who reach a C-suite position in a shorter time compared to the average 24 years have three traits in common.
Firstly, they outsize their impact. They take more calculated risks such as building a business unit from the ground up within their organization or making lateral moves to smaller companies to take on increased sets of responsibilities. In all cases, sprinters leveraged these opportunities to leave their mark and hone their entrepreneurial capabilities.
Secondly, they “leapfrog”. Often, they were offered roles that they believed they did not have the capabilities for, such as taking a new position in an unrelated function. Many took the leap of faith and accepted the challenge and the increased in exposure allows them to make sound business judgements – with a wider latitude of perspective and skills.
Thirdly, they are proactive. These leaders were always quick to take initiative in identifying new opportunities, championing new initiatives, and fixing areas that needed improvement. They viewed every situation as a chance to develop their problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
Should you aspire to propel your career toward exponential growth, these principles serve as guiding lights to lead you towards the top.