What Comes with the Title?

Everyone likes to be shown appreciation.

Some people prefer it be displayed by a promotion with a title. This symbolizes career growth and promotes the idea that a star is on the rise. Every title does not have the same meaning, especially when it comes with no authority. Before accepting the title change, understand what is involved and how it translates to the workplace outside of your organization.

An example is the title Vice President in the Financial Industry. The people who sit behind the desk at a local bank have these titles. So how does that correlate to any work-related skills with the same title at a Fortune 100 company in another industry? It most often doesn't.

Check job boards like Monster.com, Indeed.com and specific ones catered to your industry and research similar job titles as the one you hold. What is required? What is the organizational makeup? Who does the person report to? What decisions can be made? What fiduciary and personnel control is authorized?

Find a mentor in the same field but a different industry and conduct an informational interview to determine what authority and required skills fall short with the title you hold. Create a plan to develop in these areas and discuss the potential of gradually gaining areas of authority to make decisions that the title commonly warrants.


Prepare an evaluation plan that only you will monitor. Use this to track all the extra projects and work done to meet the criteria of the title's job description elsewhere. Constantly evaluate where improvements can be made in the existing role to prepare for the move outside of the industry.

It's not in the title. It's all about what comes with it that will get you to the next level.

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Posted in: effective hiring,Get A Clue,getting promotion,Hiring,jumping for the promotions,promotion,titles no authority

A Respectful Climb Up the Corporate Ladder

ROAD TO CORNER OFFICE

A sense of purpose for many is driven by the title or position held within a company.  For others, it may be derived based on the ability to provide for others and afford the desired necessities and niceties. Either way the road to the next promotion or pay grade takes determination and requires the ability to make others notice.  However, demonstrating skills as the difference maker does not require power struggles, coercion and unsettling tactics to climb the corporate ladder.  It can be done respectfully when keeping two goals in mind.

Maintain relationships.  Everyone plays a part in the success of an organization.  No one knows it all and eventually help will be needed.   The persons you thought you would need the least may be the ones that can help you the most in your next position. Strengths resonate vividly.  Display your skills without directly exaggerating others' weaknesses.  

Demonstrate trustworthiness.   The work environment requires getting tasks done mostly with the assistance of others.   Trust fosters cooperation, teamwork and commitment to the excellence of the organization and others.  Just like in any personal relationship, trust broken cannot be rebuilt.  Underhanded schemes and secret initiatives focused on showing how inept others are will obliterate trust and cause people to not want to work with or for you.  Highlight key capabilities the old-fashioned honorable way by working hard, producing undeniable results, and making sound judgment on what battles should be fought.

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Posted in: climb corporate ladder,corporate communication,getting promotion,leadership,promotion

Best Read Friday - How to Get a Raise

DEMANDS DON'T GET RAISES...

There are certainly cases where more work has been done than expected and goals were achieved because of hard work and long hours of dedication.  Of course you can't demand it and you can't threaten to walk out.  It would not only be politically incorrect but detrimental to the professional reputation you have worked tirelessly to build.

There are a few other gotchas to be careful of doing as well.  Check out this Huffington Post article on what not to do when asking for a raise.

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Posted in: employment,getting promotion,getting raise,huffington post,permanent employees,promotion,raise,Temeko Richardson