What’s your pathway from grunt work to leadership?

From sponsorship and mentorship to a simple hello, here are Helen's thoughts on moving up the corporate ladder.

By Eden Timbery

From sponsorship and mentorship to a simple hello, here are Helen's thoughts on moving up the corporate ladder.

By Eden Timbery

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Welcome to Leadership: Your questions answered. Each fortnight, experienced and award-winning leaders Helen McCabe and Jamila Rizvi respond to your workplace queries, questions and conundrums.

This week Nikki asked: How does one go from being a person in the engine room and not being seen, to a leadership role? What is the stepping stone, pathway, window?”

Helen: The first thing I would suggest is to signal your ambitions. Have an answer ready when your boss asks, ‘How are you feeling about your role? Where do you you see yourself in five years?’ As a boss, once someone says ‘I want this job’, that’s usually something I’ll remember. When the opportunity arises, I’ll give you a clear pathway. If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, think about what that next step might be and signal that.

For more Leadership: Your questions answered content, tune in to Helen and Jamila’s live chat every second Tuesday in our member-only Facebook community or listen to the podcast version.

Want to submit a question of your own? We’d love that. Tell us about your leadership conundrum here.