What nobody tells you about moving up

Let me share something that took me over a decade of managing teams to fully understand, a revelation that might just transform how you view your career journey.

Picture a building with three distinct floors. Each floor requires a different key to access it. Fascinating thing? The key that opened one floor won’t necessarily work for the next. This is exactly how career progression works, and I learned this lesson the hard way.

Early in my career, I watched brilliant colleagues hit invisible walls. These were people who could code like wizards or crunch numbers in their sleep. They were passionate, skilled, and consistently delivered great work. Yet something was holding them back from reaching the next level.

Then there were others who seemed to glide upward effortlessly. What was their secret?

Here’s what I discovered after years of observing, managing, and mentoring:

At the ground floor (entry-level), it’s all about your skills and passion. You’re the eager rookie with fresh knowledge and boundless enthusiasm. Companies love that! Your technical abilities and genuine excitement for the work open that first door.

But here’s where it gets interesting…

Moving to the middle floor requires a different key entirely. Suddenly, it’s not just about what you know – it’s about what you can deliver. Your expertise needs to translate into tangible results. I’ve seen many struggle here because they keep polishing their technical skills when they should be focusing on impact.

Now, the top floor? This is where the biggest surprise lies. Those senior positions? They’re not won through technical mastery alone. They’re earned through character and leadership. It’s about who you are as a person and how you influence others.

I remember a brilliant team member who couldn’t understand why she wasn’t moving up despite her exceptional technical skills. The truth was, while she could solve any problem put in front of her, she hadn’t developed the ability to lead others toward solutions.

Action Points:

• Assess Your Current Level: Take some time this weekend to honestly evaluate where you are in your career journey. Then ask yourself: “Am I still using last floor’s key to try to open the next door?”
• Create Your Level-Up Strategy: Identify one behavior or skill that’s crucial for the next level (not your current one). For example, if you’re aiming for a senior role, start leading initiatives without being asked, even if they’re small.

Remember: Your next promotion isn’t just about doing your current job better – it’s about demonstrating you’re already operating at the next level.