How to Get a Seat at the Executive Table

Do you influence your company's direction? Contribute to the corporate discussion about customers, products and strategy? Are you a participant in high level meetings? Do managers sometimes seek your opinion on critical issues?

If you can answer "yes" to these questions and you also initiate people programs and processes, then I wish to welcome you to the executive board room. Congratulations on your success so far. However, the below tips will fast forward your career or keep you sitting at the executive table for as long as you desire.

Understand Your Organization's Business:
Of course, when you're buried in the day-to-day activities of your desk, it's hard to remember you're actually running a business. Ernie and Harriet aren't getting along; have to play moderator. Julie doesn't understand her benefits; have to hold her hand for awhile. Bob wants to know where to find training records, Mary needs information regarding off duty days after the birth of her baby.

Ah, yes, you're in the people business, a small business within a business. But, you're also in the bigger business of your organization. You should spend time every day talking with sales, production, quality and accounting staff. Make sure you know what is going on in that bigger ‘world’. Know your customers, the cost of your products and how you're going to meet your monthly sales goals. You help the people get what they need to run the business effectively, profitably, and respectfully in an empowering environment.

Share Responsibility for Business Goals and Plans:
The overall business goals are your goals, too. When you make plans for your department, they should be directed at achieving overall business goals as well as Human Resources goals. Developing a performance culture is a goal you'll likely own.

You contribute to the inventory turns goal, too. You supply the best people who are trained in the business, motivated by their work, rewarded by the company and led by effective management. You are knowledgeable about the business and can ask questions that encourage continuous improvement by all.

Know the Human Resources Business Thoroughly:
Your customers rely on you for correct and insightful information and advice. What more can I say? You are reliable, credible, trustworthy and knowledgeable. Let people down and they'll stop coming to you for information and advice. They'll lose faith and confidence in your answers. And then, what good are you? (Remember, it's always good to say you don’t know the answer if that’s the case.)

Run Your Department Like a Business:
Don't get so caught up in the business of your overall business that you forget to run your department like a business, too. Meet with your reporting staff members frequently. Meet with your department to make sure all members are pointed in the same direction.

Your goals must contribute to the accomplishment of the overall business goals. Your action plans to achieve the goals should translate into daily "to-do" lists for your staff. Every important activity needs a feedback loop or audit so you know it is being accomplished.