There are always water cooler stories being shared about the guy who started in the mailroom who then became a CEO or senior vice president or gained a position in upper-level management. However, those instances are rare. Still, most employees dream of moving up the corporate ladder. Unless the employee is a relative of the CEO, chances are the rise up the ladder will happen slowly, one rung at a time.

Be Proactive

Forty years ago, when a company hired an employee, the expectations were that the employee would stay with the company through retirement. Today, there is a lot of movement. Employees go from company to company. Promotions may not come from within one company, but may require movement between different corporations.

While modesty is ordinarily a good trait to possess, it will get the businessperson nowhere in corporate America. The corporate world is ruthless. The best way to get the attention of those that decide on promotions is to promote your own good work. Don’t be afraid to claim credit where credit is due; after all, a manager won’t hesitate to take the credit of a good performance by an underling.

It helps to do things that get the employee into the corporate eye. That includes volunteering to train or to mentor new employees, enthusiastically accepting the chance to serve on a committee, or signing up to be on the company bowling team. Anything that keeps the employee’s name circulating throughout the company in a positive manner only helps the employee. Of course, the employee must also continue to do outstanding work.

Networking

Networking might be the single most important tool available to today’s corporate employee. It not only provides contacts within the employee’s current company and within the employee’s business peer group (or more influential), it also provides inside information on the corporate environment, such as who is job hopping, what positions are going to be made available, or what positions are being downsized. Networking can be as simple as inviting the boss out for lunch and keeping tabs on the management climate through an informal conversation. Be seen where men and women higher up on the management ladder frequent. No matter where the networking takes place – whether a formal business function or the company picnic – always be professional.