Story-Teller
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- Feb 22, 2009
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MOVING UP THE LADDER
“The life that is unexamined is not worth living.”
—Plato
Everyone has heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know but who you know that counts.” This bit of folk wisdom has found some verification in studies about how people move up the corporate ladder. Relationships with the people higher up can be very helpful or dangerous to your career path. Most managers tend to promote people they can work with, whom they can trust, and who will be team players. The employee who ignores the role of business relationships is probably the same one who will stay in the mailroom the rest of his career. In a corporate study, Robert Jackall researched the factors that help to move people up the managerial ladder. It was his understanding that, once a person reached a certain level, managerial ability was taken for granted. After that, there were five other key factors.
The top factor Jackall discovered was Patron Power. A manager must have a mentor, sponsor, or champion who can pull him or her up the ladder. Often, when the mentor moves up, his or her favorite workers move up as well. Style is an important component for a potential upward move. The manager must be well organized and be able to give slick presentations and think fast. Also, the manager must be perceived as a team player. He must have self-control, manage his stress, and always exhibit a smiling and agreeable demeanor in public. Finally, the manager must look and dress the part. Shakespeare said we are all actors. It is only those actors who can play the part well that wind up in the starring role.
CONSIDER THIS: Which of these factors do you need to work on? Are any of them holding you back?
Submitted by Richard
“The life that is unexamined is not worth living.”
—Plato
Everyone has heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know but who you know that counts.” This bit of folk wisdom has found some verification in studies about how people move up the corporate ladder. Relationships with the people higher up can be very helpful or dangerous to your career path. Most managers tend to promote people they can work with, whom they can trust, and who will be team players. The employee who ignores the role of business relationships is probably the same one who will stay in the mailroom the rest of his career. In a corporate study, Robert Jackall researched the factors that help to move people up the managerial ladder. It was his understanding that, once a person reached a certain level, managerial ability was taken for granted. After that, there were five other key factors.
The top factor Jackall discovered was Patron Power. A manager must have a mentor, sponsor, or champion who can pull him or her up the ladder. Often, when the mentor moves up, his or her favorite workers move up as well. Style is an important component for a potential upward move. The manager must be well organized and be able to give slick presentations and think fast. Also, the manager must be perceived as a team player. He must have self-control, manage his stress, and always exhibit a smiling and agreeable demeanor in public. Finally, the manager must look and dress the part. Shakespeare said we are all actors. It is only those actors who can play the part well that wind up in the starring role.
CONSIDER THIS: Which of these factors do you need to work on? Are any of them holding you back?
Submitted by Richard
