12, 14, 21, 36 - How long does it take to make it to board level?

Sir Terry Leahy’s announcement this week that he will be standing down as CEO of Tesco follows an impressive, 14 year tenure where he has brought the company to the forefront of the supermarket industry. His replacement Phillip Clarke first worked for the company stacking the shelves 36 years ago and has been on the board for the last 12, which poses the question – how long does it take to reach the top of the business ladder?

In a study last year, executive careers site TheLadders.co.uk found that the average term of a Board level executive in the UK is 21.7 years. After surveying its senior management members the site discovered that nearly all of its CEO level candidates had 21 years plus experience.

Derek Pilcher says ‘there is no exact time when any business person will reach board level, there are a variety of factors involved including experience, qualifications and the company. But it’s clear that you do have to earn your stripes to join the club and this is something only gained through time and hard work.’

If you have your sights set on reaching the top, here are some tips from TheLadders to help you achieve your goal:
1. Dedication. Clarke and Leahy are prime examples of how dedication can get you up the business ladder. Job hopping from one position to the next for more money or a title does not always reflect favourably on the individual.
2. Network, network, network. Online and offline, a good network is invaluable.
3. A profile. PR yourself and your work. Win accolades for your business and demonstrate your worth. Sir Terry Leahy has shown his leadership success by quadrupling the size of Tesco since coming in to power, making it the most dominant supermarket in 75% of British postcode regions not to mention nearly £1 in every £7 spent in Britain is at a Tesco store.
4. Be brave! Senior executives who have made big career moves when they were young, have often managed to hang on and be part of a company’s big succession plan.
5. Ensure you have a good knowledge base from different businesses and industries.
6. Work across different industries, taking-on different positions to show you know how a business works from all aspects of the chain.
7. Having a broad range of skills. This means that you will be well equipped to handle most situations thrown at you.
8. Listen. To your teams, to your peers, to your predecessors. This is not a natural skill for an entrepreneur which is why the best ones work alongside a CEO.
9. Stick at it! 14, 21 or 36 – they are all big numbers but it’s important for any executive to stay in their role for more than 10 years to really move up and reap the benefits.