Seeking career advice from a senior leader?
It might not be the best idea.
The best mentors understand your situation and give you practical, actionable tips to overcome your immediate hurdles.
That’s probably not the C-suite leader, for a variety of reasons:
- Too distant from the day-to-day challenges of your role
- What got them to the top years (decades?) back may not be relevant any longer
- May not empathise as they are beyond the stage where regular people throw obstacles in their path
- May not have the time to really get to the bottom of your issue
- Time with them may end up being unintentionally high-pressure. You’re exposing your weaknesses to someone who may have veto power over your future prospects
Instead, find time with a high-achieving middle-manager a couple of levels above you.
Advice from such people may be more likely to get you results.
- They were in your shoes just a few years ago and figured out how to be successful in their role
- They are more likely to be in touch with your environment and know all the players who influence your success
- They have fresh, first-hand experience of the challenges you are facing
- Plus they’re far more likely to give you time (and be flattered you asked!)
Seek out sound advice, not high stakes history lessons.
