Whats the difference between those who break into upper or?
The question is excellent and it does not have just one simple answer. Some people intentionally avoid career progression in order to have freedom and full control of their life. Kudos to them. Some other people end up in upper management roles only because of tenacity, not because of their outstanding skills. So its not as simple as seeing it as success vs. lack of success when someone advances (or doesnt) into upper or executive management. But if we here focus solely on those who really want to advance into more senior management, I believe the following is true: When you climb a real and physical ladder, it is the same thing that allows you to take the first bottom step as the last top step: strength and coordination. But when you climb an organizational ladder, each step requires new skills and strengths. This concept is missed by many. You may advance from manager to senior manager for one reason. To get to director level will take new skills. From director to VP is again a whole new world. Every step is different. It is not really a ladder. It is a challenge course with new obstacles every time. Not only do you need to learn new skills for every new level, you also need to abandon some past practices. For instance, a team leader will be ready to step in operationally and help any member of the team at any time with the concrete work to reach the goal. This is a recipe of success at that level. But when that same person becomes a manager and then director, it is important NOT to jump into operational details all the time. Now the recipe of success is about not getting bogged down by every operational issue, but focusing on analysis and overall prioritization. Those who successfully advance in an organization to higher and higher levels of management are masters at learning and experts at modifying their own behavior. They keep their values and moral compass intact and they build strong relationships to all kinds of colleagues, but they know that all other keys to success will change for every new level.