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When work from office is going to resume???
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Politics is significantly more important than anything, including content and sales. To progress as a partner, you need to be in with those that are in power and, most importantly, those that will be in power. A regime change can undermine your career if you are not in with the rising powers. Don't assume that making numbers and having good relationships with your clients and teams is enough.
I get it. Just being a shithead, I understand the politics are thick. They are even worse sometimes in industry. Not that I hate the politics either, just noticing a stark resentment within the staff ranks of those who clearly have a path to partner based on value they bring in front of clients in delivery and selling vs the homegrown, “connected” folks. Clients don’t always love how they are force inserted into conversations, and then when it comes to actually doing the work they need the SMEs.
I’m up for PPMD this cycle so assuming all goes well, this is what has worked for me…
1. Have a skill. I’m a specialist in a particular area and known as being the go-to person for that. Ideally this should be the intersection of a skill and an industry and sometimes even further (ie private / public companies).
2. Have champions. You need people that represent you when you’re not in the room and can speak to what you do.
3. Be your own advocate. It’s a really fine line but you have to self promote without being annoying. Letting leadership know what you’re doing is key.
4. Be intentional. There are so many moving pieces that you have to intentionally track what you’re doing for sales, pipeline, firm initiatives, articles etc. You can’t be one dimensional.
5. Have a team. You’ve got to demonstrate there are people beneath you that will support you when you’re promoted. The firms are taking a much harder look at not just who has done well but who can be sustainable.
6. On the theme of sustainability, ideally have a big account that you’re connected with. It’s so much easier to go up when you’re part of a successful team that has a long pipeline rather than having just finished one big job and now needing to find the next one.
7. Family support - you’re going to have to be pretty focused for 1-2 years in the run up so you need to be able to focus. People that try do this while moving house or starting a family seem to struggle because it’s such a huge commitment.
8. Remember to exercise. For me, it’s been crucial to make sure I keep balance and this has meant being super diligent about keeping exercising. I’m not trying to get promoted and then be an out of shape mess. You’re going to be looked at as a leader and that means you should be in shape for your own health and to set a good example.
9. Refresh the wardrobe. You need some good clothes so you look the part and people can visualize you as a leader.
10. Stay kind. Stepping on people doesn’t work. People are going to be looking at you thinking do I want to work with this person for the next 10-20 years. Be a good person, even if that means sometimes taking a lap.
Wardrobe is overrated, but the rest of these is solid.
One potential addition: Own your own success, as in ‘take ownership’ & don’t rely on anyone else getting you there - if it’s not happening/progressing don’t even think of blaming anyone or anything but yourself.
If you can sell and clients love you then partners will love you and give you a platform to rise up. Selling beats out everything. The career PMO all stars are becoming a thing of the past. Sell and specialize in subject matter that immediately brings credibility in front of clients. Clients no longer value pretty slides with little substance.
People (including on this thread) act like this is a new thing, or a hidden thing. It’s one of the original and most obvious aspects of any professional services partnership model.
To become a Partner, you have bring in incremental sales and revenue that wouldn’t be there without you. You may not need to do it on your own, but your contribution needs to be direct, and recognized as distinctive by existing Partners. Indirect contributions, or ones that an existing Partner could have made if you hadn’t made their life easier by doing it yourself, may get lip service but tend not to be rewarded with Partner economics.
Numbers/metrics/feedback is half the battle. Other half is brand, sponsorship, followership, market/practice potential, likeability, attitude towards sales/delivery, and political posturing. And last bit but not least, a stroke of luck.
Think of it as you’re running for President. You have to pound flesh, do favors, earn favors and play all the politics along the way. That goes a long way to make it a shorter journey. Once you make it you can pretty much do what you want.
So Poundtown isnt a required stop to get in now? Lame.
You have to be an absolute killer. Also find an ally at the company who is really strong
OP. Some terrible advice here. If you are D, and no idea what level you are. Chose 2-5 PPMDs you admire. Ask their advice. Start with a meeting where you want their perspectives on a path from where you are.
Go from there.
Good luck! Feel free to DM me.
It really depends on which firm you’re at. At my company, making partner is exclusively based on sales (and potential to continue to generate), where at other companies the politics are most important.
My personal advice either way is that confidence is key. When you are having the partner convos, you are a rockstar, everything is amazing, your pipeline is so strong, there’s so much opportunity, your leads are converting, they are making a good decision investing in you.