Adventure beyond the keyboard: Growth strategies for senior leaders

Track and measure your leadership impact through both spoken and unspoken feedback:

• Monitor meeting invitations and participation
• Note the types of questions directed at you
• Observe how actively people listen when you speak
• Document project success rates and outcomes

Focus on strategic metrics that senior leadership cares about:

• Cost/revenue ratio
• CSAT scores (50-70 is decent, >70 is good)
• Project success rates
• Team attrition rates
• Business impact over technical metrics

Actively seek feedback through multiple channels:

• Request specific project feedback from peers
• Conduct effective skip-level meetings
• Pay attention to exit interview feedback
• Make it easy for others to provide feedback

Assess your growth areas:

• Use red/yellow/green exercises with job listings
• Compare current role vs. next-level requirements
• Identify skill gaps and create action plans
• Build relationships across departments

Take concrete steps for career advancement:

• Attend conferences and build networks
• Take courses in business fundamentals
• Improve public speaking skills
• Make deliberate decisions aligned with company goals
• Change companies if growth opportunities are limited

Focus on being strategic by:

• Making decisions that help achieve long-term goals
• Staying aware of market and industry trends
• Connecting technical solutions to business needs
• Investing in cost-effective solutions
• Looking beyond immediate technical requirements