Scare me

For those in middle management positions, you are now poised to take your career to the next level and according to Chris Lynch, CEO of Transurban, the only hurdle you have to overcome is yourself! He said ‘every professional has the ability to decide where they want their careers to go, and many different paths can be taken to fulfil that goal.’

“Ambitious professionals need to be wary of linear plans. It is very common to only look upwards for career development, however, looking sideways and internationally for other opportunities can provide you with invaluable experiences and growth, and broaden your views of the business world” he said.

If you have ambition, the big question to ask your line manager is “can you give me something that scares me?” This can open a multitude of career progression opportunities and help you strive your way to the top. CPO’s will have an advantage working in finance, operations and technology. They will have a broader view of an organisation and they will deal with parties external to the company more frequently than most. This is attractive to prospective employers.

CPO’s are uniquely placed in a position where they can deliver true value to an organisation and if you aren’t delivering value you need to ask yourself ‘what am I doing to change it?’

Ultimately, the key is you-you are the common denominator.