Here's how you can impress executives and get promoted: focus on key qualities.

Prepare thoroughly. Understand the issues and perspectives involved. Listen actively and remain empathetic. Address conflicts with clear, concise communication. Focus on solutions, not blame. Foster an environment of trust and respect to resolve issues effectively.

Understand that strategic success is not only proportional to great and emerging external market opportunities--- its also related to the organizationals current and near-term capabilities to deliver successfully. I've been with organizations where each product group thought their individual products needed to be promoted. But the organization wasn't ready in some areas. When I convened marketing, sales, and product together, it became obvious that some areas should be promoted now due to the intersection of market opportunity and excellent corporate readiness to be successful. The CEO took note and was impressed how we were able to vet strategic segment priorities with excellent cross-functional alignment. And areas needing improvement,

Can you see the forest through the trees? If not, you're not likely to get promoted to leadership. Seeing the bigger picture and using the vision to make decisions is a key leadership quality.

No pain, no gain. To get the attention of executive management, I have always been willing to take on new calculated risks which included taking on new challenges important to the organization and new responsibilities. That is how we grow in our careers, get new experiences and improve our internal brand. Emerging challenges aren't always easy, but so necessary to personal growth -- be open to them. For example, I've never considered myself as only a marketing leader, but as a business leader which includes understanding the perspective of other functions to drive integrated alignment. Taking on more responsibility and delivering results is where senior executives will take notice that they can depend on you.

Being results focused, specifically quantitatively is important in executive management to see results. Leadership wants to see goals, and quantitative measures to show that you are achieving them. Otherwise it's really difficult to say whether or not you are being successful. If someone did not like goals, or had many excuses to why they did not meet their goals, I would not consider them for promotion. This may not always be obvious, so I do believe in mentoring through professional development, but not everyone cares or understands the importance of goals.

Innovative thinking has been something I look for when assessing executive promotions. I want to see that someone can think outside of the box, and pivot when needed. If you are not innovating, you are not growing. I started a business with innovation as a key value. This can be a key characteristic for executives.

A strong executive will look for the leadership qualities in the ones they will promote. Included in that will be leaders who are problem solvers. No executive wants to promote a leader who cannot effectively resolve issues and find solutions to problems at a lower level, much less at an executive level.

Promotions go to the people that are known and liked by leadership, plain and simple. Hard work and achieving strategically aligned and meaningful results can certainly get you noticed (known), but the truth is that these alone are unlikely to get you promoted. To increase your chances of advancement, be sure that your accomplishments are highly visible to people with influence. In that same vein, work to develop your level of influence across the organization. Finally, be sure to establish and maintain positive and mutually beneficial relationships (liked). These relationships will keep you on the most likely path to career success.