Welcome to Leadership: Your questions answered. Each fortnight, experienced and award-winning leaders Helen McCabe and Jamila Rizvi respond to your workplace queries, questions and conundrums.

This week Nikki asked: How does one go from being a person in the engine room and not being seen, to a leadership role? What is the stepping stone, pathway, window?”

Helen: The first thing I would suggest is to signal your ambitions. Have an answer ready when your boss asks, ‘How are you feeling about your role? Where do you you see yourself in five years?’ As a boss, once someone says ‘I want this job’, that’s usually something I’ll remember. When the opportunity arises, I’ll give you a clear pathway. If you don’t know exactly what you want to do, think about what that next step might be and signal that.