3 Tips to Climb the Career Ladder Faster and Smarter

Levelling up your professional life is in your own hands. Specifically in the current competitive landscape and the fact that technology is evolving, like AI. For anyone who would like to advance, wherever you are in your career journey, if you follow the below top 3 tips to climb the career ladder, you will be in charge and not someone else. So, let’s get to the steering wheel.

My Career Story: Saying Yes Before I Felt Ready

 still remember that moment vividly. The company had just announced a massive transformation project — implementing a new SAP billing system that would impact customers and employees for years to come.

As I sat in the town hall, I felt a spark. This was big. This was where I wanted to be. So right after the meeting, I wrote to my manager, asking to be part of the project.

His response? A polite but firm no. If I joined, he’d have to replace me in my role — and that was inconvenient.

But here’s the thing: when something matters to you, you don’t give up at the first “no.”
I suggested a compromise: “Let me dedicate 20% of my time to this project, and I’ll keep managing my team alongside it.” After several conversations, he agreed.

That’s how I found myself in a role I knew nothing about: testing the new system with real data. I was completely out of my comfort zone — overwhelmed, uncertain, and at times thinking, I don’t belong here.

But I stayed. I asked questions. I made mistakes. And slowly, I learned.

Three months later, the project lead approached me:
“We need a Customer Excellence Leader for this entire project. You’d be perfect.”

That moment changed everything. For the next three years, I led strategies, worked across continents, and connected with clients globally. It stretched me, challenged me, and opened doors I didn’t even know existed.

Key Lessons

• Step out of your comfort zone. Growth rarely feels comfortable — but discomfort is a sign you’re expanding.
• Persistence pays off. A “no” can turn into a “yes” if you believe in your value and find creative solutions.
• Raise your voice. Opportunities don’t always come knocking. Sometimes, you need to knock first.

My encouragement to you: Don’t wait until you feel fully ready. Say yes, even when it scares you. That’s where the real growth begins.

Quick & Smart Career Ladder Advancement: 3 Tips

1. Continuous learning and skill development

Seek for opportunities withing your company our outside to learn and practise skills that are needed to reach your career goals. If you want to be a leader, learn about leadership, if you want to be a good speaker, practise with your peers or join any public speaking organizations. Staying on top of the curve in your company requires time and effort. This needs constant attention. Ask for a mentor or job shadowing possibilities.

Knowledge is important and the more you ask for evolving, the more your organization will be fostering and supporting you. Not always you will receive a yes and that’s ok. However, there will be times that it will be and that might the opportunity for igniting your career.

2. Building strong relationships, in short internal and external networking

This is crucial. Analyse your network, check out who can be supporting you, whom you should ask for a coffee and have a chat, introducing yourself. Attend meetings, webinars and volunteer for any initiative that comes along as this is the path to create your own brand, your visibility and credibility. Be Authentic and genuine with your approach, have your elevator pitch ready and know what you ask for.

Finally, don’t forget to express gratitude and appreciation for those who have helped you along the way. A simple thank you note or gesture can go a long way in strengthening your professional relationships.

3. Set clear goals. Without direction, your ship will be lost in translation

Set clear goals. Without direction, your ship will be lost in translation. You need to know where you want to go, where do you see yourself, in which type of company you would like to work, what are your strengths, your passion and combine them into a set of goals. Set an ultimate vision, see yourself there, clearly and from there work backwards to set small and achievable goals.

Quick Moves, Smart Gains on the Career Ladder

I am sure you know the expression of SMART goals. You are the one who orchestrates your career, you need to set the milestones to reach them. I hope you liked my 3 tips to climb the career ladder faster & smarter. And if it gets too difficult, as a career coach and having mastered many transitions, I would be delighted to be your co-partner on your journey.