Christina Noble is a former chief growth officer, independent board member at Medikarma and entrepreneur.
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So, you want to level up your business development career? Maybe you're eyeing the roles above you, and sometimes, it just feels daunting to reach for those positions. How can you position yourself effectively to take on the next role when you lack experience in it? All of these aspirations are possible with hard work, tenacity and a willingness to take risks. If that sounds like you, keep reading.
Guidance From Experience
The guidance I'm providing comes from 30 years of climbing the corporate ladder in business development roles, most recently serving as an independent and advisory board member.
I began my career in business development as the manager of systems integration at a Big 5 consultancy house. Leveraging my technology integration experience and leading teams working with marquee clientele, I transitioned to a CRM manager role in sales administration at a Fortune 500 company with my heart set on the sales division. Over the years, I was promoted about every two years and later progressed to roles like director of sales and account management, senior director, area vice president of sales and vice president of business development, and eventually landed my first C-suite position as chief growth officer at a joint venture.
I believe there are three main keys to leveling up: mindset, resilience and forging a vast ecosystem. Let's dive into each below.
Mindset
Adopting a growth mindset is crucial. Embrace the idea that there is an abundance of roles right for you, and be creative and open about how all of your aspirations will come together in terms of timing and form. Be willing to learn new concepts and technology. Adapt to the market and your customer needs. And continue to improve efficiency and productivity—in both yourself and your team.
Resilience
Risk-taking demands resilience, and as your career grows and responsibilities expand, so does the ability to remain steadfast in the face of challenges. The ups and downs of business demands perspective. To help build resilience, I've found it helpful to practice emotional fluency—an intentionally developed practice of experiencing authentic emotion in the moment without attachment. As co-authors Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy of No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work said in an article:
"In order for leaders to get better at their emotional fluency, they should start by understanding their own emotions and when they would be helpful to share...Make some space in the day to speak about your emotions – though try to do this in a non-emotional way."
I’ve made practicing personal resiliency a priority. Some of the best practices I use include daily mindfulness meditation, regular practice of hatha yoga and connecting with nature. (I recently had the opportunity to travel to Jackson, WY, and experience the Grand Tetons wilderness. It was both grounding and inspiring!) Finally, I use the technique of building a mindset playlist, identifying songs that resonate with my desired mindset.
As you progress in your career, your awareness and intentionality in choice-making can be a game changer.
Expand Your Ecosystem
Activate your network of support both internally and externally. Join professional groups in your geography where you can learn from leaders outside of your company and vertical, gain perspective and grow your allyship. One great place to start is your local Chamber of Commerce. Many have young professional groups.
Alumni networks and volunteering at or sponsoring a 501(c)(3) is a great way to apply your business acumen to benefit the community while increasing your visibility within your organization and industry. Forge a vast ecosystem of allies, sponsors, mentors and executive coaches.
Business Development Career Advancement
Set aspirational goals.
Understand your career aspirations and align them with your actions. Do you want greater revenue responsibility? Geography? Diversified products to commercialize? Account management or acquisition? Broaden your impact across verticals or become a deep subject matter expert in a particular technology or process.
Focus on continuous development.
I’ve recently begun coaching and guiding individuals to get familiar with not only their technical and business acumen but also to gain perspective on character strengths (this is the free strengths assessment I use, though it does require registration). These natural strengths can be leveraged along the way. Of course, get clear on what experience and skills need development for your target roles. Importantly, co-create an action plan authored by you and your leader and share it with your sponsor, mentors, executive coach and allies for feedback and support.
Also, continuously update your CV, resume and LinkedIn profile. Document your achievements and experiences regularly, especially around performance review times, as you’ll need to document your achievements there anyway. Be open to lateral moves to gain diverse experience.
Consider tweaking your role.
I’ve recently been speaking with colleagues about the concept of job crafting—essentially, designing or redesigning the job they want. Explore the concept of job crafting to tailor your role to your preferred experiences and skills. Work with your employer to shape your responsibilities and projects to align with the business development OKRs or KPIs.
Adapt a strategy based on target role.
Tailor your action plan strategy based on your target role. For entry-level and mid-level roles, focus on refining your experiences and interview preparation. As you progress, emphasize delivering results, creativity and innovation to diversify revenues. Build strong relationships and a bold personal brand both within and outside your company.
Be patient and persistent.
Lastly, practice patience and maintain perspective throughout your journey. Visualize yourself in your target role, create a roadmap and socialize it with decision-makers and influencers. Stay humble and persevere, even in the face of challenges.
In conclusion, leveling up in business development requires a combination of a growth mindset, intentional resiliency and the development of a robust ecosystem. By committing to your personal growth and awareness, you can achieve your career aspirations.
Forbes Business Development Council is an invitation-only community for sales and biz dev executives. Do I qualify?
