Aiming for a promotion in the next few years? Here is why you should consider a cross-functional role.

A lot of managers and middle management focus obsessively on their current jobs, tasks at hand, and more so, the company name they are working for. Indeed, this is great however to advance your career (especially to a C-suite or Senior Manager position) one must explore opportunities in a variety of functions, geographical regions, and cross-functional roles. Indeed, extended tasks are a great way to expose yourself to the foundations, however, now more than ever engagement in strategic "side gigs" will support a run to the top. I don't mean supporting a colleague with a workplace project, attending industry networking events, or online courses.

With a saturated talent pool, a rapidly changing environment with the rise of Industry 4.0, digital currencies, and various new monetary policies evolving an aspiring leader must get their hand dirty. A high achiever will need to take part in meaningful engagements that expose you to different mindsets, experiences, information, cultures all while being somewhat in line with your personal interests.

Although not all companies hire from within for Senior Management roles, you'll need to work aggressively for promotions and prove your leadership skills and industry expertise by making an impact on the company in every role you land. When aiming for a promotion, this is why it is so important to be focused and strategic on the roles that you do accept.

So, how do you find such opportunities and what extended tasks can you take on?

First of all, make it clear within your organization and trusted network that you are looking for outside activities. Don't overburden yourself with your daily work routine that you are not able to take on side projects. So long as you are meeting (or best yet exceeding) your internal KPI's then you can afford to dedicate time for your professional growth. No one is too busy. It is all about how you channel your time and energy. Explore your passions and see if there are any weekend clubs, sporting events or even volunteer organizations that would accept you taking on some tasks (for example you can offer to assist with Revenue Management, Policy Creation, Financial Analysis, People and Culture enhancement). Participate in activities that speak your intellectual curiosity. Another idea to consider is to be a member of private-public or not-for-profit Boards, volunteer to teach the disabled, write feature articles or act in a consulting capacity to start-ups.

As the speed of in-demand skills accelerates, companies will shift their investment away from build strategies and focus more on buying and renting talent than they have ever before. Embracing and creating a culture of continuous learning, promoting flexible training, and encouraging inquisitive mindsets will be essential in preparing yourself (and your team) to meet future challenges.

More people can reskill and move into new jobs and occupations without going through complicated, multiple-year education programs. In closing, it is all well and good putting in these efforts, but the most important part of it all is being able to showcase your abilities. To build your personal brand, first of all, you may consider the elements mentioned above, ensuring cohesion and consistency across all of your promotional assets.

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