Promotions don’t just happen. They’re not a rite of passage. And in an increasingly uncertain and competitive corporate landscape, they’re far from a given. For many employees and leaders, working with an Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching® (ILEC) coach is among the first steps in working toward the promotion they want.
“The ones that get promotions are the ones that ask,” said Trevor Maloney, growth strategist at ILEC. “One of the first things is working on confidence in that leader to actually ask for the promotion. And getting to that next level of confidence comes from the work we do in the background — building that leadership, refining their skills, and then getting them to the point where, because of the growth that they’ve had from working with an ILEC coach, they can ask for that promotion with confidence.”
ILEC is an executive and leadership coaching franchise backed by a proven system and nearly 40 years of franchising experience. Today, the brand is ramping up its franchise growth efforts amid unprecedented demand for its services. With a goal of securing 80 franchise owners by the end of 2023, it understands that leaders at all levels need more help now than ever, and they’re poised to meet that demand.
Here are some strategies and traits ILEC coaches are sharing with their clients to build better leaders worldwide and position them to get the promotion they want.
Think Differently, Think Big
What do Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk have in common?
They each stepped out of the mainstream to create their own space, according to Master Certified ILEC Coach, John Burt.
“If you’ve ever wanted different results in your life or in business,” said Burt, “you’ve had to really step outside your comfort zone and you’ve had to disrupt yourself. You have to have the courage to think big about yourself and what you have to contribute to the world. You have to discover your core purpose.”
Burt isn’t saying you need the bravado of Elon Musk to get a promotion. He’s simply saying that because millions of American workers across different industries struggle with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence, stepping outside of your comfort zone and challenging the status quo are ways to promote both personal growth as a leader and perceived value to a company, thus increasing your chances of getting a promotion. Leaders want to promote other leaders who see the bigger picture and have something to contribute, and thinking differently and thinking big are habits that can foster the kind of thinking that will promote those traits.
Be Vulnerable
Growth as a leader starts with personal growth, and being vulnerable is one of the first walls that must come down if you’re looking to push beyond your current boundaries and reach levels of growth you never thought possible.
“A lot of the clients that I work with — some of the top ones — are OK with being vulnerable,” said Master Certified ILEC Coach Al Fragnoli. “Some people are a little bit nervous to do this, but just showing your people that it’s OK to not have the answers to every single thing and really seeking out your leadership team to grow and help you accomplish your goals is really important.”
We, as people, generally like others to think we’re smart and confident. But real confidence, Fragnoli says, is the confidence to admit that you don’t know everything. Cultivating that vulnerability will make you a better leader in the short term, as your team will admire the fact that it’s not your way or the highway, and it will show other leaders that with you, it’s about the company and the goals you’re working toward as a team, not you the individual.
Develop a Mindset of Duty Over Entitlement
Vulnerability is a direct precursor to developing a mindset of duty over entitlement, as one cannot possibly be simultaneously vulnerable and entitled. Developing vulnerability and cultivating greater self-awareness is key to taking a step back and working toward the greater good.
“I think most great leaders understand that it’s not about them or their corner office or their parking space,” said Burt. “It’s about understanding their responsibility to others to lift those people up — to create that shared vision or strategy and be able to communicate it so strongly that the people on your team will want to follow you wherever you want to go.”
As a leader, you have a duty to your team, to your superiors and to the company you serve. Putting those first while still thinking differently and challenging the status quo is a recipe for growth, both for you and the company.
Leverage Your Gifts and Address Your Gaps
Even the best leaders have shortcomings. But the greatest leaders acknowledge them and either work to improve them or outsource those tasks to someone for whom it’s a strength.
“For leaders these days, it’s about creating a greater self-awareness and really understanding the strengths and weaknesses that they have,” said Burt. “Being able to work on those and to understand how their emotions and their mindsets are driving some of their behaviors in the workplace is key.”
Stay Present
There is such a thing as being too focused on that promotion.
If everything you think and do is geared toward positioning yourself for a promotion, you’re not practicing the “duty over entitlement” mantra. Staying in the present moment and focusing on being the best leader you can be each day is the best way to make sure you’re being an effective leader and that you and your team are achieving your goals.
“When you move into a leadership role, it’s really important to understand that it’s not about you anymore,” said Fragnoli. “So you got to keep the ego at the door. It’s really about that duty and that servant leadership, and those leaders that understand the importance of taking care of their people — making sure that their people feel that they’re in a safe environment when they come to work each day — those are the leaders that are going to see success.”
One of the best ways to do this is by being present and listening to your team.
“In today’s environment,” said Burt, “it’s about speaking less and listening more. Having empathy for others and trying to understand their situation and their perspectives in the environment, and also recognizing people for their contributions to the organization and to look for signs that you need to change or you need to pivot.”
It’s tough to see what’s in front of you today if you’re too singularly focused on your own big-picture future.
Demonstrate Resilience
Leadership can be a lonely position, especially when you’re faced with the unprecedented times of a global pandemic and all that comes in its wake.
“Change is the new normal, right?” said Burt. “We’re not going to go back to something else. And so leaders need the grit to create greater resilience for themselves to be able to deal with the turbulent times.”
They say that a team is only as strong as its weakest link. But a resilient leader can lift a team to be greater than the sum of its parts. A leader sets the tone for a team — and in some cases, an entire organization. When things go wrong and there are supply chain issues, layoffs or any of the other unforeseen challenges businesses of all kinds regularly face, people will look to their leader for stability and support.
“Resilience is not a single skill,” said Burt. “It’s a variety of skills and coping mechanisms that leaders need to develop.”
If you’re the kind of leader people look to when the going gets tough, you’ll undoubtedly be the one your leaders look to when it’s time for that promotion.
About Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching (ILEC)
Established in 2010, Co-Founder John Mattone is globally recognized as the world’s #1 authority on Intelligent Leadership (IL), the world’s top executive coach, and the pioneer of the unique, powerful and game-changing Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching® blueprint for success. Intelligent Leadership Executive Coaching® (ILEC) is the world’s top executive coaching franchise backed by co-founders Terry Powell’s nearly 40 years of franchising success. ILEC leadership executive coaches are dedicated to growing leaders, building cultures, and driving results. The ILEC unique coaching methodology provides a proven philosophy, system and tools to empower leaders and future leaders to unlock and unleash leadership potential. ILEC clients benefit from a high ROI that delivers real results.
To learn more about how you can join the IL Movement as a coach, or how you can benefit from bringing IL Solutions to your organization, contact us today.