Most organizations have a process of identifying high potential performers early in their career. This identification is based on your performance, not your pedigree (e.g. school you attended, major, GPA). Once these high potential performers have been identified, organizations will then start giving them opportunities to develop experiences in three foundation areas:
| Operations: | The making of the product or the delivery of the service. |
| Sales/Marketing: | Representing the company to its customer base. |
| Finance/Planning: | Examining the corporate level financial structure and developing strategies for growing the business. |
You will probably start your career in one of these three areas. When you are identified as a high potential performer you may be asked to make a move to another area. For example, your career has been in sales. You may be asked to run an operational unit for a while.
Here are some strategies for building these foundations:
- Focus on getting on high performer list. The only way to do this is to outperform others who come into the organizations the same time you do. You won’t be told you are on the list so you will have to develop your own performance goals.
- Get an MBA. This will give you the academic background for all three foundations. You can do this at night or on the weekend. Your company will likely pay for all or part of your degree. Pick the best school you can in your area. Avoid online MBA programs. Your MBA classmates will become a valuable network. This network is hard to develop in an online format.
- Develop a mentor within your organization who can help create opportunities for you. A good mentor will have connections in all parts of the organization and can put your name in front of a lot of people.
- Use your performance review as a time to express your interest in building a foundation in another area. Many bosses take great pride in seeing their former employees do well.
- Start developing connections in areas where you have limited experience. See if they will be willing to share their insights with you. There is a lot you can learn from them. Your interest in what they are doing may also create an opportunity for you should a position open up.
- Learn to become the connector between your area of expertise and the areas you want to move toward. For example if your expertise is in sales, help those in operations and finance understand the customer.
In all of these recommendations, there is one common prerequisite. You need to assert yourself. Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities to happen.
