怎樣才能成爲老闆

While working as a spa coordinator at a luxury resort in Stowe, Vt., Laura Crandall got a sense that her boss was unhappy and thinking of moving on. So Ms. Crandall trained for her boss's job by volunteering for more work, pursuing mentorships and attending management seminars.

The effort paid off. Her boss resigned a year later, and Ms. Crandall was promoted to director. 'You have to show up and deliver,' says Ms. Crandall, who is now a workplace communication consultant. 'You can't just talk about what you want and expect to get it.'

Being the next in line doesn't guarantee that you'll be promoted, but there are a few things you can do to improve your chances, such as bolstering your qualifications.

Many would-be successors are actually underqualified, says Paul Glen, a management consultant in Los Angeles. 'They just don't realize it because executives tend to have a narrow, circumscribed view of their boss's job.' Also, many No. 2s are hired to serve in specialized roles that don't necessarily require leadership skills. That's why it's important to develop the hard skills early so you can prepare for when your boss does leave.

A recommendation from your boss is the best way to land a promotion, so start earning that support by letting him or her know that you are interested in advancing -- just don't sound like you're planning a coup.

Inquire about your strengths and weaknesses so you can fill knowledge gaps with some professional development. Also request additional work that helps you build experience and allows you to manage projects from beginning to end.

Learn what your boss does by following his or her daily routine. Observe the interactions between your boss and other employees and ask to collaborate on tasks so you can gain an inside view of the job.

Go outside of your work group and talk to peers of your boss, who can offer you a companywide perspective on the management chain. Seek cooperative managers who would be willing to mentor you or at least offer advice. This can include talking to your boss's boss. Immerse yourself in industry trends so you can casually converse fluently about company issues and make thoughtful contributions during meetings.

Over all, pursue activities that increase your visibility within the company, such as volunteering for a charity the company supports. You may get noticed by board members or at least remembered by senior managers who may be tapped to make employment recommendations.

'Don't try to compete with your boss or show him or her up. You don't want to appear ruthlessly single-minded,' says Gaby Cor[aacute], a Miami executive coach.

Distinguish yourself by doing your job well and being supportive of your boss, even if you don't agree with his or her processes. Being able to toe the line can also be a valued trait.勞拉•克蘭德爾（Laura Crandall）在佛蒙特州斯托鎮（Stowe）的一家豪華度假村做水療中心協調員時，覺察到她的老闆不太開心並正在考慮換工作。於是，克蘭德爾自願承擔下更多工作、虛心向人求教、參加管理研討班，藉此學習處理老闆分內的工作。

她的努力獲得了回報。一年後她的老闆辭職，克蘭德爾晉升爲總監。如今已是一名職場溝通顧問的克蘭德爾說，你必須勇於表現並做出實績。你不能只談你想要什麼，然後就期望能得到它。

成爲二把手並不能保證你將得到晉升，但你可以通過一些努力來增加晉升的機會，比如充實自己的資歷。

洛杉磯（Los Angeles）管理顧問保羅•葛 （Paul Glen）說，許多未來的繼任者實際上資歷並不夠，他們只是沒有意識到這點，因爲很多管理者對老闆工作的理解往往狹隘而有侷限性。而且，許多二把手受僱從事的是專業性職務，這種職務並不需要掌握領導能力。這就是爲什麼提早苦練內功很重要，因爲這樣你才能在老闆離職時做好準備。

老闆的推薦是得到晉升的最佳途徑，所以現在就開始獲取他的支持吧，讓他知道你對事業發展感興趣——不過也別讓他覺得你在謀劃搶他的位子。

向別人詢問你的長處與不足，這樣才能彌補知識差距，獲得職業發展。你還應該要求多做一些有助於累積經驗、讓你能從始至終管理項目的工作。

關注老闆的日常工作，瞭解他的工作內容。觀察老闆和其他員工的互動，並主動要求幫忙，這樣你就能從局內人的視角來看問題。

跳出你的工作團隊，和老闆的同僚交談，他們能從全公司的角度向你提供關於管理鏈條的看法。尋找與你合作的管理者，他們應該會願意指導你，至少願意向你提供建議。這包括與老闆的老闆交談。花心思去了解行業趨勢，這樣你就能自如地交流公司事務，並在會議中提出有深度的意見。

總之，要爭取參與能提高你在公司內知名度的活動，比如在公司支持的慈善組織中當志願者。公司董事可能會注意到你，至少負責推薦工作的高級經理會記得你。

邁阿密的管理教練加比•柯拉（Gaby Cora）說，不要試圖與你的老闆競爭或讓他難堪。別表現得像一個一門心思向上鑽的冷酷之人。

要將做好本職工作和幫老闆的忙區分開，即使你不同意他的做事方法。能夠聽命行事也是一個寶貴優點。