I’ve been at my company for 2 years, got promoted to senior manager, and now I’m stuck on how to level up to director. My boss keeps saying I need to stop going to her for decisions, but I’m not sure how to take full ownership when I don’t have control over the budget or partnerships. How do I show autonomy to make those calls? Any advice on how I can improve in this area would be greatly appreciated!

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You either have autonomy to make those decisions or you don't. You can either campaign to get autonomy on the budget, or you can try another way to stand out. Doing the standard things, stepping up and helping to solve problems, volunteering for projects, and so on, that might be the best approach.

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Firstly, ease up on your expectations. Enjoy this promotion and focus on kicking ass at the level they’ve put you at. You’ve clearly communicated your ambition and desire for vertical expansion and made the first step, now it’s time to keep making incremental improvements and building the reputation and capabilities that you need as a director.

Secondly - manager to senior manager is a normally title and salary bump with some added level of responsibility - it doesn’t usually require a headcount adjustment, a particular level of responsibility (headcount, budget), and pay scale and structure change (bonus, LTIs) that a senior manager wouldn’t have. If there isn’t a director role available, you are unlikely to be promoted just because they like you.

Thirdly, the only decisions that can be made relate to ownership of budget and partnerships? Are you sure of that? I cannot think of an instance where that could really be the case. Ask your boss what they mean by there feedback and get specific examples.

My career path was 3 years to manager, 7 years to Senior Manager, 4 years to Director, 4 years to VP, and I’m about to jump to SVP after 4.5 years as a VP (all healthcare manufacturing and distribution - product/brand/strategic marketing roles, moving to BU lead). I’m sure others have faster paths than mine, but the best advice I can give you is enjoy where you are, learn from those around you, make sure to be someone people want to work with, and don’t push too hard for the next step.

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Have you considered taking the approach of being the “Trusted Advisor”? I am in a similar position and it’s helping me out greatly.

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Being an advisor, you have the insight and knowledge by making strategic suggestions to the decision makers on how to. It could lead to
1 of 2 things. The first is being selected for an advanced opportunity or (if the organization offers this flexibility) being entrusted with said budget or pieces of it at least (as has been the case with me)

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What level is your boss at currently?

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