How to Position Yourself for Leadership Opportunities
Promotions don't start when the job posts. They start months earlier -- in side conversations, informal huddles, budget meetings, and "we should keep an eye on her" whispers you're not invited to.
Meanwhile, you're out here perfecting your work ethic while someone else is perfecting their visibility.
- Casting means making yourself credible in the role in the eyes of leadership.
- Show leaders you think like the future of the business, not the current staffing chart.
- Once they associate you with where the company is going, you stop competing and start qualifying.
- Choose one strategic direction the company keeps talking about (growth area, product push, transformation effort).
- Link your work to it with one clean sentence.
- Send one strategic breadcrumb this week to someone senior: "Here's what I'm seeing in X area -- and how I'm thinking about it."
Don't confuse exceptional execution with elevation. Being the best player on the field doesn't mean they see you as a future coach.
Write your reflections in the box below.
- Where do I wait for permission instead of positioning?
- What future part of the business am I already fascinated by?
- Whose attention have I earned but never leveraged?
Strategic alignment You talk about the business the way they do.
Predictable clarity You make decisions easier, not heavier.
Directional relevance Your work points toward the company's next chapter, not last quarter's fires.
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GRANTED
New Clearance Level Unlocked
From overlooked to unmistakable