What are your dreams for your career? Do you have aspirations of running the whole show, being the big boss with the corner office (and the paycheck to match)? If you’re ready and willing to do the hard work, you can achieve those lofty executive goals! Just understand from the beginning that it’s a tall ladder to climb and there might be some bumps along the way.

This is not meant to deter you from going after what you want; if anything, being prepared for and aware of the challenges you might face ahead of time can help you be more adaptable and ready to conquer those problems on your way to success!

Here are a few pieces of advice to consider on your way to the top.

Understand what CEOs and other leadership positions do and what’s required of the position.

Having a big title comes with a lot of responsibilities and demands. Depending on your industry and the size of your company, a CEO might be the person responsible for establishing and keeping to the company’s budget; approving contracts with suppliers, clients and distributors; personnel decisions including hiring and firing; staying ahead of industry trends and making decisions on how to adjust to trends; establishing a vision for your company’s performance and setting goals for improvement; managing teams and establishing relationships with managers and top-level executives; organizing and attending conferences or conventions, among dozens of small daily tasks.

Consider the kinds of skills needed for a job of this size.

Executives need to have many tools in their toolkit. They need to be expert project managers to keep things running smoothly and to keep a clear vision of the big picture in mind. They need to have top-notch communication skills to share important information quickly, clearly and effectively to keep the whole company apprised of what’s happening. They need to be able to make decisions, large and small, quickly and decisively, knowing when to take a moment to further research a topic and when to move with conviction — and to not be intimidated by all the ripple effects caused by their decisions. CEOs need to be quick and comprehensive thinkers, understanding the strategic benefits and costs of every choice, while being impartial and doing what’s best for the company despite their own preferences. Company leaders also need to do just that — to lead their teams with compassion and confidence, making sure their teams are cohesive and to be ready to address challenges or limitations to those lofty goals to ensure all employees are treated with respect.

Are you willing to learn more than what you already know?

Being a CEO or other type of executive means you’re a smart person who has accomplished quite a lot in your career so far. But are you ready to admit what you don’t know? Are you prepared to push your knowledge even further and to learn from others? Executives need to keep their own skills fresh in order to know what their teams need to learn (and to give them credit and show appreciation when they’re ahead of you on something happening in the industry). The world is always changing and there’s new information to learn all the time. An executive cannot be set in their ways or disinterested in learning anything new; that kind of arrogance will derail a company’s progress and might create endless challenges and hurdles. Instead, smart and successful executives are eager to learn from others and to take to heart the lessons shared by those who are in their shoes across industries. Good executives also know they need their teams to keep learning as well and will establish ongoing education programs to encourage lifelong learning and skills training for their teams!

How will you get there?

No matter what your job title is currently, you can still achieve your goal of becoming an executive. There are some critical steps you’ll need to make before you get there, however:

      1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
      2. Consider getting a masters degree in an applicable field, like business administration
      3. Put in the time, working your way up and earning promotions every few years by focusing on your career and being a dedicated employee
      4. Keep learning by earning certifications and taking training courses to become specialized in your industry
      5. Take other more general courses, such as public speaking, stress management and others that will improve your personal skills and ability to manage people and emotions in order to be tough but fair when needed

Establish a work-life balance that will respect the demands of your office and your personal life.

So many executives think they need to be “married” to their jobs. Many do, and there will be situations in which you will have to sacrifice personal time for the company. But early in your career, it’s important to decide how much you’re willing to sacrifice and where you will draw the line to be away from work. Everyone deserves the right to put something on a shelf to handle a personal matter, even executives — part of becoming a leader is knowing when to step up and when to step back and trust the people you’ve surrounded yourself with to handle the job. That also sets the tone for the rest of your company that you’re a leader who respects personal lives and family time, showing your team that they’re encouraged to take care of themselves and their other priorities without guilt or shame. That’s a fantastic and critically important skill!

Whether you’re looking to become an executive in 2024 or a little further down the road, understand that great power comes with great responsibility and a little compromise. If you’re ready and eager to commit to sitting in the big office, this is a great time to start setting your course!

Are you looking for an executive position in Hawaii?

If you’re not sure you have the right background or skill set to achieve this goal, it’s time to call Bishop & Company. Our recruiters and experts can help review your resume and your current position and help determine where your next step should be on the path to being an executive — and we can help you make it! Give us a call today and let Bishop & Company help you achieve all your career goals.