Trust and Relationship: The Secret Recipe for Executive Promotions

“Trust can happen when your visibility meets your personal branding.”

Atip Muangsuwan
CEO Coach and Coach Supervisor

Landing that critical promotion – especially one requiring broad support from senior leaders and executives – hinges on more than just technical skill. It demands trusted relationships across the organization. The journey from Director to Vice President (VP) is often paved by the votes and advocacy of those already at the top. How do you build that essential trust and visibility with 50+ influential stakeholders? The answer lies in a powerful combination: Visibility and Personal Branding.

Why Trust and Relationships Matter for Promotion

Securing promotion to VP isn’t a solo endeavor. It requires a coalition of senior leaders and executives who know you, value your contribution, and believe in your potential to step up. They need to see you not just as a competent Director, but as a future peer and asset to the senior leadership team. Building genuine trust ensures they feel confident supporting your advancement.

The Two-Stage Strategy: Public & Private Visibility

The path to building these relationships requires intentional presence on two distinct stages:

1. The Public Stage: Building Your Brand Broadly
   • Become a Knowledge-Sharer: Actively seek opportunities to present at internal forums, training sessions, or knowledge-sharing events. Position yourself as a thought leader (e.g., “The Go-To Expert,” “The Strategy Guru”). This instantly elevates your visibility and credibility.
   • Master the Townhall: Don’t just attend – engage strategically. Use coffee breaks and networking segments to introduce yourself, have meaningful micro-conversations, and reinforce your brand. Be present, be prepared, be professional.
   • Engage Beyond Work: Participate actively in company CSR initiatives, social events, and volunteer activities. These less formal settings are golden opportunities to connect with senior leaders on a human level and demonstrate shared values.
   • Volunteer Strategically: Raise your hand to lead initiatives, moderate panels, or represent your department. Every public speaking or leadership opportunity reinforces your “executive presence” and brand.
2. The Private Stage: Deepening Trust One-on-One
   • Leverage Your Network: Use existing connections for warm introductions to key stakeholders in other departments. A trusted colleague’s endorsement is incredibly powerful.
   • Be the Solution, proactively: When senior leaders or executives reach out for help – or better yet, before they ask – offer your support and expertise. This isn’t just about solving a problem; it’s about demonstrating reliability and value. Apply the EE-FI Model:
     • Engage: Connect with them regularly.
     • Empathize: Listen deeply to understand their real challenge or goal. Acknowledge their perspective and pressures.
     • Fulfill: Deliver solutions or support that genuinely meet their needs. This builds immense goodwill and trust.
     • Influence: You’ll be able to influence them naturally and automatically after you have done the engage, empathize and fulfill steps accordingly.
   • Seek Collaboration: Volunteer for cross-departmental projects or client engagements that put you alongside senior executives. Jointly facing challenges and achieving wins builds strong bonds.

The Heart of Trust: Making Others Feel Valued

As Dale Carnegie profoundly noted, people crave significance. The deepest trust is built when you focus on them. When interacting, especially privately:

• Listen Intently: Truly hear their concerns, ideas, and aspirations.
• Acknowledge Contributions: Recognize their expertise and achievements genuinely.
• Offer Support Without Strings: Help because it’s the right thing to do, not just for future support.
• “Read” Them: Pay attention to their communication style, pressures, and motivations. Tailor your approach accordingly.

Your Action Plan for Promotion Readiness

1. Set Clear Intentions: Consciously identify both public and private stage opportunities each quarter. Put them on your calendar.
2. Cultivate Executive Presence: On public stages, project confidence, clarity, and competence. This is your branding moment.
3. Embrace Proactivity: Don’t wait to be asked. Offer help, share relevant insights, volunteer for high-visibility tasks supporting senior goals.
4. Speak Up: Never pass up a chance to present or share your expertise publicly when it aligns with your brand.
5. Be Genuine: Authenticity is key. Build relationships based on real value and mutual respect.

The Wisdom for Your Journey

The cornerstone of securing the trust needed for promotion is captured in two powerful concepts:

• Become Visible.
• Build Your Personal Branding.

Visibility + Personal Branding = Trust

Building the relationships necessary for promotion is an active, strategic process. By consciously increasing your visibility on both public and private stages, proactively offering value, and building a strong, reliable personal brand, you cultivate the trust that turns senior leaders and executives into your most powerful advocates. Start today – your future senior leadership role depends on it.

About Atip Muangsuwan: Atip Muangsuwan is the Founder & CEO of The Best Coach International Co., Ltd. He is a CEO & UHNWI Coach, Certified Mentor & Supervisor for global executive coaches, Holistic Life Transformation Expert, Business & Life Strategist, and Corporate Facilitator/Trainer. With a proven track record of helping clients achieve their career goals and job promotions, Atip is dedicated to supporting individuals in their personal and professional growth.