8 of the Best Traits to Move up the Corporate Ladder

Getting promoted is probably one of the greatest dreams of every employee. Not only that this equates to a higher salary, but it also gives a feeling of pride and a great boost to one's confidence. Getting promoted is indeed a blessing, but getting it is truly not a walk in a park.

I have worked in the corporate world for more than 10 years and I was fortunate to have been given the opportunity to move up the corporate ladder. If you are reading my blogs, I remember giving a glimpse of how my corporate journey started after I graduated from UPLB in 2006. To provide immediate financial support to my family, I have made the decision to put my college degree aside and explored the BPO industry, had a hard time getting in, failed many interviews, rejected by a lot of companies, and yet I didn't give up until one company saw my potentials and hired me.

In this global company and highly reputable brand, I started my career journey as an agent (Customer care specialist) taking inbound calls for a US telco account. After a year, I got promoted to a Quality Analyst role and been in the role for almost 3 years until I moved to a different account (online ecomm site), and later on served as an interim Team Leader for Operations. Unfortunately, that account got closed shortly before the transition to a voice line of business, but prior to that happening, I was blessed to be promoted to an Assistant Manager/ Team Leader for operations role. I transferred to another account (a US airline) and served as a TL for more than 2 years before I decided to leave the company for "greener pasture." In March of 2013, I started my career with a new company and was fortunate to become part of the pioneer batch of a Shared Services insurance company. I started as a TL and after a year got promoted to an Operations Manager role for our new site in Cebu. I relocated from Manila to Cebu and lived there for more than 3 years before I decided to leave the organization and relocate back to Manila.

I'm sharing this not to brag but to just give you an idea on how I climb the corporate ladder and use this as an example in this blog's topic. One thing I can tell you is the fact that it's not easy to be promoted, but it's definitely possible if one really wants to achieve it. Aside from endless hard work, you need to have certain qualities or traits which will guarantee success in your career. And that's what I'll be sharing with you today.

Based on my experience, these are some of the qualities or traits that you need to have if you are aspiring to move up the corporate ladder:

1. Be punctual.

A great way to start is to show discipline by always being on time for work. Not a buzzer beater, but arriving to work earlier than your scheduled shift. This not only shows that you are dedicated to your work but also shows that you are a reliable employee. The whole point here is not just being punctual but also being always present at work. Having an excellent attendance record is one of the first things higher management is looking at in a potential candidate for promotion.

2. Be presentable.

Following the company's dress code is a must, not only to show that you are adhering to the company's policies but it also shows that you are credible for a higher role. Dressing up properly will also boost your confidence at work and make you look professional. Part of your income should be invested in buying office attire, but not necessarily the expensive ones. If you are on a tight budget, you can always try to explore "ukay-ukays" which offers branded apparels for a very low price. Forget about what other people will say, what matters is that you are wearing clean and professional-looking clothes, and of course, how you carry yourself would matter.

3. Be a team player.

As an employee, you are part of a team. One expectation for this is to be a team player. Being a team player does not only mean being cooperative but more importantly, this also involves bringing value to the team. You can do this by helping your teammates who are struggling and caring for not only your personal success but also the overall success of your team. This also involves helping to a create a fun and positive working environment and building great relationships with your boss and colleagues.

4. Be proactive.

This is one of the traits a manager looks at when promoting an employee. Being proactive means being empowered and always taking the initiative. This involves being self-reliant and being able to work effectively under minimal supervision. If you want to be successful in your career, you should always take the initiative and don't wait to be told before taking action. Of course, there would always be a limit to this. While these are good traits, you should make sure that you are not stepping on other people's shoes or authorities, ensure that you are doing the right thing, and of course guarding your reputation by not looking like boastful or all knowing. Always do it with humility.

5. Be passionate.

Of course, if you want to be successful in your career, you should show passion in what you do. In my previous blog, I remember mentioning about the importance of loving what you do and finding value in it. This would prevent you from being stressed and will make your work easier and more fulfilling. Being passionate also comes with being resilient by embracing changes and keeping a positive mindset.

6. Be a role model.

Being a role model does not happen overnight. It would take consistent actions in doing the right things. Sooner or later, people will notice you and you will instantly gain trust from other employees. Being a role model by doing the right things will make you a great employee and this can be a great credential in your application for promotion.

7. Be open-minded.

Being open-minded is indeed an important key to success. If you want to be successful in your career, you should be open for feedback and sources of improvement. You should not take feedback personally and take feedback constructively to improve yourself. Another key thing for being open-minded is to not stop from learning. Veer away from thinking that you already know everything. Take advantage of the training that your company is providing to further improve your skills and competencies.

8. Aim for excellence.

This is one secret to success. In everything that you do, always give your 100% and aim for excellence. Not only will this ensure high quality of your work, this will also be your personal branding if done consistently. Of course, having consistent excellent performance in terms of your scorecard is a big plus for someone who aspires to move up in a higher role.

There you have it, folks. Those are just some of the qualities or traits that you should have if you are aspiring to move up the corporate ladder. You might find all of these as basic, but that's the whole point. If you want to be successful in your career, you'll have to start from the basics and get the basics right first.

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