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by Catherine Davis
You too can get that promotion, salary increase or corner office. Apply these tips and enjoy the journey to the top
You know you’re good at your job. You always put in the hours, you’ve never upset anyone and you’ve never messed up badly. So why is it that you’re not the one approaching the top rung of the corporate ladder?
“On paper, two people can look the same but attracting success comes down to the softer side of things,” says life coach Camilla Hazell-Harradine. Successful people know what they want and don’t allow self-sabotaging tactics to get in their way.
Executive coach Cindy Bell calls this intentional focus. “It’s important to have a meaningful vision for yourself. When you believe in what you’re doing and are passionate about it, rather than following others’ plans for you, you have the energy to succeed,” she says.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO GET AHEAD
▶ Get a mentor Who inspires you? What can you learn from them? “Use their game plan to accelerate your own development,” says Bell. Learning from others who’ve arrived where you want to go can cut out the heartaches of trial and error.
▶ Listen to your gut feeling Successful people don’t ignore their instincts. They’re secure in their thoughts and decisions. This isn’t about telling your boss exactly what you think of her (although you may desperately want to). It’s about letting people know who you really are instead of putting on a front or playing games. If you don’t agree with someone’s opinion, have the courage to disagree or give an opposing argument.
▶ Build self-awareness Executive coach Joanna Brown advises asking yourself questions such as: How do others see me? Am I listening to and hearing my colleagues? Is my behaviour conducive to where I want to be in my career? What should I be doing differently?
▶ See the corner office All top sports people use the power of visualisation to create a positive outcome. Venus Williams will see, feel and hear herself throwing up a ball and slamming it down to ace her opponent. She will have mentally visualised it many times as part of her preparation. Be as creative as you can. You need to live, feel, see and hear the success.
▶ Acquire a corner-office attitude If you want everyone to think you’re a success, start acting like one! Dress for the job you want, not the job you have; exude confidence, not arrogance; and listen to and mirror your boss’ language and negotiation skills. This means you’ll be getting her on your side on a subconscious level too.
▶Play to your strengths, and find new ones What are your best qualities? Not only at work, but socially or on the sports field? Try reapplying them in a different context. If you’re a great listener to your friends, try being more attentive with your colleagues. Not only will this hone your core strengths, but using them in an alien context will give you greater confidence. Once you’re confident in what you do, learn something new — such as how to manage budgets or use a new computer programme, for example.
▶ Take risks When you open yourself up to assignments that are unnerving because you’ve never done them before or because they’re acknowledged as difficult, you set yourself apart from those who are hesitant to embrace new challenges.
▶ Ask for help It’s not true that a successful woman knows how to do everything herself. All too often, people fear that asking questions reveals ignorance. The opposite is true. When you ask about something, you’re taking a step towards understanding it.
DON'T SAY WE DIDN'T TELL YOU
Research from the international Centre for Creative Leadership shows that regular exercise and effective leadership go hand in hand. In fact, according to study author and former US Olympic Committee researcher Sharon McDowell-Larsen, "Executives who exercise are rated significantly higher on their leadership effectiveness than non-exercisers." 
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