How do you become an executive

The key is performance.  Exceed your quota.  Deliver results, on-time, on-budget.  Better yet, ahead of schedule, under budget.  

Coach your team members so they perform well.  Your entire team, your organization, needs to perform.  Executives get the best from others, because they know they can't do it all themselves.  

Manager-tools is foundational to that kind of success.  Use these tools, practice and master them.  

Know your industry, your competitors, and your functional area's best practices.   

John Hack

While I agree with the results comment, the more I see and am around successful executives the more I see being able to communicate well both one on one and to large groups as the key component to success.  Many people in my orginization get great results however have no social skills.  They would not be considered for an executive positions as they cant lead others to get the same results.

Those who speak well can lead others regardless if they themselves couldnt deliver the best results.

I think one of the best things you can do is work on your personal brand.

If you're to make it to the executive level, the current executive team will be, at least informally, polled. You need to have them on side.

So blow your own trumpet -- quietly. Make sure the current executive team knows who is kicking the goals. One of the best things I think you can do is catch up with as many of the current executive team for a coffee as you can on a regular basis. Talk about what they're doing, not what you're doing. Eventually they'll ask. Read Seth Godin's "Linch Pin"

Cheers!
Rick Measham

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