What stands between you and that high position?

What is that position you so covet? Never mind that commandment for now, we are way past that already – you can sincerely confess right after this. You do covet the supervisor, manager, director, CEO, chairperson and beyond.

Let us work with the CEO’s position. Did you know there’s nothing the CEO has that you don’t? People in any position of power and authority are not born. They think it, their thinking spurs their feelings and their feelings direct their bodies to act according to their thoughts.

They pronounce themselves as those positions by their actions and in no time, the universe organises itself to respond in direct proportion to their actions.

So what’s holding you back from positioning yourself for that higher office you want? You don’t have 20 of the 25 years experience required? Or is it that you lack two out of the six degrees on the job description? Can you do the job and do it well?

Go on; hand in your application right now. All applicants for any position do not meet 80 per cent of the stipulated requirements for any advertised position, and any one who does rarely gets it.

Those who nearly meet the criteria are seen as over-qualified and even treated with measured suspicion as to why they would apply for the position.

The position you currently hold refers to you as assistant, support, liaison, and whichever other polite title organisations use to let you know your place in the pecking order.

Good for them – the organisations, that is. You did not have any part in charting the organisational chart, did you? You must not restrict your vision to the title stipulated on your contract and emblazoned on your business card.

Don’t restrict it to the little desk surrounded by a sea of others that you report to everyday, either. I want you to know that the position you hold has everything to do with your employer’s pigeon-holing process and nothing to do with the definition of who you are or how high up you are going within or outside your current engagement.

All job grades, salary scales and ceilings are part of organisational socialisation that keep you a statistic of “the system”. There is nothing supervisory, managerial or directorial that you do not already possess. What stands between you and that position is you.

That is because you see yourself as a meek, helpless and even victim follower; not the unrivaled expert, professional and confident leader that you are in your chosen field.

Who you are, how high and how fast you climb your success ladder is entirely up to you. All you need to do is decide who you are, feel it in every fibre of your being and then proceed to write, speak it and act it.

Unlimited potential

This is all power that you have; you do not need an opinion poll, a national dialogue or a referendum to do this. You are the MCA, Governor, PS and President of The Independent Republic of You.

This republic does not suffer disputed elections, unemployment or insecurity. It is a republic created perfect. Richly endowed with infinite, superior, natural and intellectual resources that you do not need technical equipment to drill or mine for.

All you need to do is to raise your awareness of this marvelous fact and start living it. Become the star that you are by being the perfect efficiency, knowledge and leadership epitome that your organisation cannot do without.

When you do this, you enjoy the privilege of choosing who you work for in employment, or with in a partnership.

You raise your power to dictate your title, remuneration and perks. And if an employer can’t afford you, they don’t deserve to profit from your unparalleled service. This is called the ultimate realisation of your unlimited potential.

Ms Ruligirwa-Kamara is an expert on Attitude and Human Potential. [email protected]