Anyone who has managed a team is likely to have been asked the question, "when will I be promoted?"

The pressure to race to the top has never been more intense. But can the fast track be too fast?

I'm not suggesting there's anything wrong with ambition or fast success - but I do wonder if there is such a thing as rising too fast?

Are there critical lessons that can/should be learned along the way that, if missed, may impede success later in your career? I believe that often the answer is yes - and often the missing elements relate to the softer skills of leadership and people management. It's a question of IQ and EQ.

There are some questions/thoughts to consider when making decisions about your own rate of career progression:

• Are you clear about your short term and long term career (and life) goals - beyond "I want to be promoted" or "I want to earn more money"? These should (at least in part) guide your interim decisions
• Do you know what skills and experiences you'll need in order to get there? And what tool kit will you need to be success once you're there? It seems to me that the importance of job title and remuneration is often overemphasised while climbing the ladder. It might be more productive to think about how to accumulate experiences and achievements that will provide the best platform for success further down the track
• Have you done a self assessment to identify your own development areas? This should incorporate (but not be limited to) feedback you've received in your work to date
• What resources are available to you in your current organisation to assist with your assessment and your ongoing development? This could include internal mentoring programs, leadership training, online diagnostic tools provided by HR, coaching services and peer networking and support
• How are you going to measure your progress along the way?

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