CLIIMBING THE LADDER

"Ambition is the path to success, persistence is the vehicle you arrive in."

-Willam Eardley IV, English Footballer

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE AMBITION?

Ambition is not solely owned by the dreams of executives and business owners. Ambition can be to become a celebrity stylist, an author, or a stay-at-home parent. The measure of ambition is what brings value to your life and what you deem as success.

HOW TO GAUGE VALUE AND AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY IN A CURRENT ROLE

There are three items to consider when deciding if you are in the right role or company.

Are you growing professionally?
Do you have opportunities for development?
Do you have an opportunity to elevate yourself within a company?

If you find more hardship than value, it is time to consider having a discussion with your manager to find a solution, pursue a new role, or seek a new place of employment.

HOW TO SAY "NO"

This is a very scary concept. Employee perception can believe "no" comes off as defiant and non-collaborative, especially if the request is outside of your job description.

If your manager believes you have the skill set to take on the added responsibility, express you are open to discussion, but your current work load should be taken into consideration. If this is going to be a continual occurrence, compensation should be addressed.

Companies will take advantage of people they feel they can dump work on. You aren't giving them a flat "no." They simply need to invest properly in you before you can invest time already allocated to other items. This will preserve your sanity while they either re-prioritize your work, or find someone more appropriate to handle the request.

IMPORTANCE OF BEING VOCAL

Being vocal means voicing your ambitions and expectations with management during check-in, development and review meetings. When opportunities pop up, you cannot blame a manager for not thinking of you if you never expressed your interests or development goals.

Persistence is key. Strive to voice your goals during every "1-on-1" meeting, even if it is not fully formed yet. A good manager will help guide you towards creating a development plan. This will include steps needed to be taken and how to track your progress towards accomplishing your goals. Be prepared, the loftier the goal the more you will be held accountable for follow-through.

Say you have been in a role for thirty years and had been content. Now, the ambition bug has bit. It is never too late to aspire for more in life. You did not waste thirty years of your life. You were simply handling what you needed to so you were ready for this moment. Now it is time to set up a meeting with your manager and get to work lifting yourself to the next level.

Suggestion: Get everything in writing. If you make a career plan with your manager, document it, and if they don't hold up their end, they will not be surprised if you start shopping for a new place of employment.