Top Manager

One reason that people are passed over for promotions is they are in a department the company doesn't consider when it is looking for someone to promote. It is important to your career to find your company's route to the top management level. If you are not in the right department, you could be stalled forever. Most companies have two powerful departments from which they promote their up-and-coming employees. In some, it is sales; in some, accounting; in still others, research and development that serves as a training ground for the company's top managers. Thus, the first question to ask yourself is, "How many of the company's top managers have been promoted through my department?" If 90 percent of your company's top managers came through the accounting department, and you are not in accounting, it is time to consider a lateral transfer to accounting or changing companies altogether to one that promotes from the kind of department in which you want to gather your experience and expertise.

Identify an organization and its top manager. Chart his or her career path.