The Bridge Strategy: How to Close the Gap Between Where You Are and Where You Want to Be
- Ulrika Gustafson
- Jan 1
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 16
She was a high-performing senior manager, leading a successful team and delivering results. But when she applied for a VP role, she was passed over - twice.
Her frustration was clear:
"I don’t get it. I’ve been doing everything right. Why am I still stuck?"
The answer? She was executing, not leading.
She was seen as a high performer, but not as a strategic leader - and in her organization, that distinction made all the difference.
Hard work alone won’t get you promoted. A clear strategy will.
I’ve coached countless ambitious leaders who felt stuck, watching others leapfrog them into leadership roles. The difference? Those who advanced didn’t just wait for the next level - they built a bridge to it.
Let’s talk about how you do that.
Step 1: The ‘Here & Now’ Assessment - Where Are You Starting From?
Before you can build a bridge to your next career level, you need to get brutally honest about where you are right now.
Ask yourself:
✅ What are my biggest strengths, and am I fully leveraging them?
✅ Where do I feel unchallenged, stagnant, or overlooked?
✅ What feedback have I received (or avoided) about my leadership or skills?
✅ What specific gaps are holding me back from my next role?
A senior finance manager I coached was frustrated that she wasn’t being considered for a VP role. She told me:
"I’ve been here for years. My work is solid. I’ve put in the time."
But when we dug deeper, the real issue became clear:
✔ She was executing tasks, not driving strategy.
✔ She was focused on delivering results, not influencing big-picture decisions.
✔ She was seen as reliable, but not as a future VP.
Lesson? If you don’t define your current reality, you can’t build a plan to change it.
Step 2: The ‘There & Then’ Vision - Where Do You Want to Go?
High achievers don’t drift into success - they get crystal clear on where they’re headed.
Define your next level:
✅ What role do you want in 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years?
✅ What skills, expertise, and leadership qualities will that role require?
✅ What impact do you want to make in your profession?
✅ What kind of executive presence and reputation will get you there?
A senior director in tech I worked with knew she wanted a C-suite role - but struggled to define what “C-suite ready” actually meant.
Through coaching, we identified the specific executive-level skills she needed to sharpen:
✔ Boardroom influence - how to present and command attention.
✔ Big-picture strategy - shifting from tactical to enterprise-wide thinking.
✔ Crisis leadership - proving she could navigate high-stakes challenges.
Lesson? If you can’t clearly define where you want to go, how can anyone else see you as ready for it?
Step 3: The Bridge - Building a Strategic Plan to Close the Gap
Once you know where you are and where you want to go, it’s time to build the bridge that connects the two.
1. Develop the Right Skills (Not Just More Skills)
Stop collecting random certifications. Start focusing on the skills that actually matter for your next level.
✔ Want to be a VP? Develop strategic thinking and P&L responsibility.
✔ Want a C-suite role? Sharpen your executive presence, board-level communication, and leadership influence.
✔ Want a leadership promotion? Master decision-making, team development, and high-stakes problem-solving.
A senior leader in media I coached was overlooked for a VP role - twice.
Why?
✔ She was too focused on technical expertise and not enough on strategic thinking.
✔ She had the skills to do the job but not the executive mindset to lead at that level.
Once we shifted her focus to high-level decision-making and cross-functional leadership, she landed the VP role within six months.
2. Expand Your Network with Purpose
Your next opportunity will likely come from relationships, not job postings. The higher you go, the more your network matters.
✔ Connect with mentors, senior leaders, and decision-makers who can open doors.
✔ Strengthen your internal visibility - get on high-profile projects and cross-functional teams.
✔ Build relationships outside your department - visibility beyond your immediate team is critical.
A COO I coached was ready for a CEO role - but the board didn’t see her as the natural successor.
She started intentionally:
✔ Building relationships with board members.
✔ Speaking at investor meetings.
✔ Leading high-visibility strategic shifts.
Twelve months later? She got the top job.
3. Take on Strategic Projects That Showcase Leadership
Want to be seen as an executive? Start taking on work that proves you think like one.
✔ Volunteer for high-visibility projects.
✔ Offer to solve complex, cross-functional challenges.
✔ Step up in crisis situations - leaders who can navigate uncertainty get noticed.
A director in healthcare was overlooked for VP because she was seen as too operational.
✔ Once she took the lead on a major organizational strategy shift, she was promoted within six months.
4. Strengthen Your Personal Brand
Executives don’t just do great work - they make sure the right people know about it.
✔ Get active on LinkedIn and industry panels.
✔ Publish insights that position you as a thought leader.
✔ Be visible in key conversations - internally and externally.
A high-potential finance leader I coached was struggling to land senior leadership roles.
✔ We repositioned her executive presence and personal brand.
✔ She became a sought-after expert - eventually getting two competing VP offers.
5. Monitor, Adjust, and Keep Moving
Career growth isn’t linear. Regularly assess progress and adjust your strategy.
✔ Are you getting the right visibility and mentorship?
✔ Are your strategic contributions recognized?
✔ If something isn’t working, pivot.
A senior leader in tech felt she was stagnating in her role.
Through coaching, we identified a missing skill - enterprise-wide strategy.
Within months of focusing on it, she became the front-runner for a VP position.
Final Thought: Stop Waiting - Start Building Your Bridge
Career growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you take control.
✔ You don’t get promoted for hard work.
✔ You get promoted for strategy, visibility, and impact.
The leaders who own their careers build a bridge to their next level - step by step, move by move.
So, are you going to wait for an opportunity to show up?
Or are you going to start building your bridge today?
If you’re serious about accelerating your career, let’s talk. Because waiting isn’t a strategy - but building your bridge is.
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