May Busch, former Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley Europe, shares her insights on career advancement after being promoted 10 times. She emphasizes the importance of a strong track record and effective communication to make a convincing business case for promotions. Instead of leveraging threats, professionals should focus on building trust and showcasing their accomplishments. May also discusses the evolving strategies needed in today’s virtual work environment and the role of feedback in aligning personal contributions with organizational goals.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Proactive Ownership
Take ownership and be proactive in your career advancement.
Your work won't speak for itself; you need to advocate for yourself.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Results Over Culture
Being a culture carrier is valuable but insufficient for promotion.
Focus on delivering results alongside embodying company values.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Avoid Threats
Avoid threatening to leave as a promotion tactic.
This can damage trust and long-term relationships.
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May Busch: How to Get Promoted
May Busch is the former Chief Operating Officer of Morgan Stanley Europe. She was promoted 10 times during her 24-year career at Morgan Stanley. Today, she's an executive coach and mentor, helping professionals overcome (often hidden) obstacles, advance to the next level in their careers, and reach their full potential.
May is the author of Accelerate: 9 Capabilities to Achieve Success at Any Career Stage and the creator of the How to Get Promoted Course*.
In this conversation, May and I discuss the key principles that professionals should consider when advocating for their next promotion. We explore a few of the mistakes that some people rely on — and how to do better through your track record, business case, and future thinking. Plus, May shares several tactics that will help you get visibility on what senior leaders are thinking.
Key Points
Being a culture carrier is a wonderful place to be in an organization, but it’s not enough for promotion.
Threatening to leave can work in some cases, but it’s not laying the groundwork for long-term trust.
Your track record should include your accomplishments, experiences, strengths, and skills. Others who are close to you can often help you be more objective on what these are.
Ultimately a promotion is a business decision. Help more senior leaders make the business case for why you are the right decision.
Perceived risks about you might be fair or not. Regardless, responding in a matter-of-fact manner to concerns is more likely to help you alleviate them.
Resources Mentioned
Discover What It Really Takes to Get a Promotion*, a free training series by May Busch
Accelerate: 9 Capabilities to Achieve Success at Any Career Stage by May Busch
Related Episodes
Move From Caretaker to Rainmaker, with May Busch (episode 390)
How to Work With an Executive Recruiter, with Becky deSouza (episode 406)
Craft a Career to Fit Your Strengths, with Scott Anthony Barlow (episode 424)
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