Week 5: The VP Mindset—How to Become the Obvious Choice

 

Welcome to week 5 of the 5-week VP-Ready challenge. Over the past few weeks, we’ve covered the critical building blocks of VP promotions and the silent career killers that keep many high achievers stuck in middle management.   Today, we’re tackling the final step: Developing the VP mindset that will not only help you secure the promotion but ensure your success once you get there.   The Pitfall: Staying stuck in the weeds and failing to think like an executive One of the biggest challenges for aspiring VPs is transitioning from supervising work to influencing strategy. They get bogged down in day-to-day tasks, unable to step back and focus on strategic growth.     After working with 100s of executives I know this to be true: It’s not a skill or talent problem.    It’s a mindset blocker. We attach our worth to how hard we work, or how many hours we put in and disregard things that don’t deliver immediate outcomes like networking, self promotion, strategic thinking.    I pushed back on "schmoozing" for years and opted to stay in the office and work instead. I passed on invitations to join leadership meetings because they were “not helpful”. I had great ideas for the company, but I never had the time to write them down.   And the result was getting stuck, unable to cross the chasm to executive leadership.   Your value as an executive doesn’t come from being the hardest worker. It comes from being able to think strategically, connect the dots, see the big picture, communicate and influence others to drive business results.   And until you believe that and act on it - you won’t get out of the weeds. Let’s talk about how to make this shift

1. Give Yourself a Promotion The real transformation starts with believing you’re ready. If you don’t see yourself as VP material, how can anyone else? Confidence is key to leadership.    Stop questioning if you belong and give yourself a promotion. Start acting like you are already operating at the next level and your mindset will follow.   2. Shift the Balance Between Tactics and Strategy To think like a VP, you need to spend more time on the big picture—beyond your team or even your organization. “I’m too busy” is the biggest lie you tell yourself. Strategic thinking doesn’t happen by accident—you have to carve out time for it.   Ask yourself:   How does my work align with the company’s long-term goals? What external trends or risks should we be preparing for? How can I position myself as someone who solves strategic problems, not just operational ones?   This shift will show senior leaders that you’re ready to lead at the next level.   3. Delegate to Elevate Your Impact Let go of tasks that don’t require your unique skills. This doesn’t just free up your time—it demonstrates your ability to empower others and focus on higher-level responsibilities.   Ask yourself:   What are the most impactful things I can do? What can I delegate to my team to help them grow while I focus on strategy?   Delegation isn’t a loss of control—it’s a sign of leadership.   4. Invest in Yourself The best executives stay at the top of their game by continuously learning and growing. Whether it’s through executive coaching, industry conferences, or studying the greats, reinvesting in yourself is essential for long-term success.   Ask yourself:   What skills do I need to develop to operate at the VP level? What resources or mentors can help me get there faster?

Action Steps: Your VP Game Plan Take a few minutes to reflect and create your VP Game Plan:   Identify if you have a mindset problem. Do you believe you have what it takes to level up into a VP role?  Are you stuck in the weeds finding it hard to shift from “doing” to “leading”? What do you need to believe in order to break the cycle?   The best way to prepare for a VP role is to start acting like one now.  Show up as the leader you aspire to be—strategic, confident, and focused on impact.   Let’s recap the blueprint for becoming VP-Ready:   Week 1: Laying the foundation—understanding the key levers to VP success. Week 2: Mastering self-promotion—how to make your contributions visible to the right people. Week 3: Building strategic visibility—how to cultivate relationships that open doors. Week 4: Developing magnetic executive presence—how to command attention and inspire trust. Week 5: Embracing the VP mindset—how to think, act, and plan like a VP to secure long-term success.   After going through this 5-week challenge, you now know exactly what it takes to become VP-Ready. But… I also know this is where most people get stuck.   They have the information, but they don’t take action. If that sounds familiar, I have an invitation for you. I created a coaching program that breaks down the 3 VP promotion levers in detail and helps you master them. It provides the environment for accountability, motivation and execution so that you can make this transformation in months not years.   During the 13 weeks we’ll spend together you’ll grow from:   Invisible → Rising Star The get sh*t done person → Executive Material “Not Ready” → The Obvious Choice for VP