How To Become a Senior Executive?

As strategist, communicator, manager and visionary, the senior executive plays an essential role in the company. It’s usually thanks to his or her unique vision and strong managerial skills that a structure functions and develops harmoniously.

In this article, we explain how to become a senior c suite executive, analyzing the typical career path and the essential skills required at this level of responsibility.

The Executive, a Key Position for the Company

What Is an Executive?

The role of an executive leader is to lead and direct the whole company or part of it. Their missions are varied, and their responsibilities are numerous!

The executive is often in charge of defining and implementing the company’s or department’s strategy. They are also responsible for administrative management, and for managing the resources of their organization.

Executives also have a people leadership role, often in charge of a large number of employees. Last but not least, they are the bearers of a company’s values and ideas: in this respect, they are also great communicators and influencers.

C-level executives, commonly known as the C-suite, are top leaders within a company who make critical strategic decisions and typically bring years of education, training, and professional experience to their roles.

Organizations have a range of C-level positions, such as :

• CEO (Chief Executive Officer);
• COO (Chief Operating Officer);
• CIO (Chief Information Officer);
• CFO (Chief Financial Officer).

Each role is overseeing distinct, essential areas within the business.

How Do You Become a C-Level Executive?

There are many ways to become an executive. Specific training or education is of course a major advantage. A master’s degree in administrative or financial management, accounting or project management will be a kind of open sesame that will facilitate access to such a role.

Nevertheless, promotion to the role of senior manager is most often the result of seniority within the structure and/or significant experience in the specific field of activity. So, for example, to become a senior health executive, you’ll need to demonstrate solid experience in the medical field.

How Much Does an Executive Earn?

Remuneration is one of the undeniable advantages of the executive position. Because of the crucial role he or she occupies and the level of responsibility involved, this position usually commands an attractive salary. A senior executive’s salary in Canada ranges from $150,000 to $845,000 annually.

The Skills You Need To Become an Executive

To become an Executive, it is essential to master a range of skills, from management to communication.

Demonstrate Leadership

To gain greater responsibility and be able to manage a larger workforce, an executive must initially demonstrate excellent leadership skills. He or she must be able to combine firmness and soft skills to motivate employees and encourage them to develop within their structure.

Understanding Your Business and Its Challenges

Before becoming an executive leader, an employee must have a clear vision of his or her structure. They need to know exactly how their company is organized and operates, what its strengths and areas for development are, and above all, what its objectives are. But they must also have a thorough understanding of the company’s economic, cultural and sustainable development challenges.

Develop Your Influence and Communication

Because he or she has a major communicative role to play, an executive leader needs to demonstrate charisma. The more an executive develops his or her influence, for example within his or her department, and demonstrates a propensity to influence his or her colleagues, the more likely he or she is to rise to greater responsibility.

Supporting Your Company’s Ideas and Values

Being an executive also means embodying the values of your organization. The future executive must be able to assert and embody the company’s ideas and unite people around these ideals. This applies to both internal employees and external audiences (press, general public, etc.).

Staying Curious and Open to the World

It’s also thanks to their ability to anticipate and adapt that senior managers play a significant role in their company’s development. For this reason, it’s important to cultivate a sense of curiosity and openness to the outside world, for example, by keeping abreast of new developments in your field, and by keeping your finger on the pulse of your market.

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We hope this article on the executive role has encouraged and inspired you to pursue your professional goals.

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