I work with a manager who has a strong employee we'll call Christopher. During Chris' annual performance review this year, he brought up the subject of receiving a promotion. Chris does a good job, but frankly, it's nothing out of the ordinary. He works 9-5, does what is necessary, but never really goes the extra mile. He is not the mentor of the members of the junior team. He rarely works late. He doesn't apply strong critical thinking to his work and as a result has missed some key opportunities.
The manager asked why he thought he should get a promotion and Chris replied, "Well, I'm doing that. work for a long time. »
An employee who thinks he deserves a promotion just because he has put in the time is misguided. The challenge for employees is that managers don't always provide specific guidelines for making a promotion, so the route may not be clear. While every business is different, here are some tips to get you on the right track.
1. Avoid the law.
The biggest mistake people make when trying to get a promotion is assuming they deserve it. An attitude of entitlement to receive a promotion, even if it is deserved, will never work because a "give me" monologue, without any substance to back it up, will quickly become background noise.
The right can also cause you to focus solely on promoting instead of what you have to do to get it. When you think you're so good that there's no doubt you'll get a promotion, you're probably ignoring the feedback previously provided to you about what it will take to get that job.
Another fake not common that people do is bypass their managers to kiss more experienced leaders, all for the purpose of showing or demonstrating their worth. This type of behavior is always noticed, but not necessarily for the right reasons. Whether by the direct manager, senior executive, or both, this underhanded strategy will likely portray you as manipulative.
2. Know why.
It's common to feel like a promotion is the logical next step in your career and start moving blindly in that direction without thinking about what the promotion would mean. Before you lock in your sights on a position, take the time to decide what you want and why you want it. If you don't know why, a promotion just for the sake of promotion doesn't make you a candidate and may lead you down an unsatisfactory path.
Examine your motivation in this situation. Are you looking for a better title, more money, increased power, career advancement, additional responsibilities, team management, a learning opportunity, or something else? And how will the position satisfy those desires?
Then examine the position. Putting aside your desire for the title, consider the responsibilities of the job and how much time you will spend performing each of the required tasks. Will work be calling for late nights? Weekend overflow? Force you to be on call? What additional skills does the job require and how many do you have? What people and organizational skills will be needed in this position? Will you be comfortable with the responsibility?
Once you've taken the time to fully assess the position and your motivations, and if the two match, it's time to take action to get yourself noticed .
3. Go further.
People who put in the extra hours, take on extra responsibilities unsolicited, and anticipate the needs of the project will be noticed. If you're not treading on toes, you may even start taking on some of the job responsibilities before you get the job. A client of mine had a budding young employee who wanted a promotion to a position that did not yet exist. When his boss backed off and said he wasn't ready, the employee prepared for his annual exam with a list of the tasks he was already doing to complete that job. The boss couldn't argue because he was doing most of the work anyway, so the new position was created and he got the promotion.
4. Do your current job perfectly.
You aim as close to perfection as possible. If you work on autopilot or even neglect parts of your work, you may be giving the impression that your work is sloppy or that you just don't care. And if you can't shine in the position you currently hold, why would a manager choose you for additional responsibilities? Doing your current job well is part of the proof that you are ready for advancement. I have a client who was recently fired for a promotion due to perception poor administrative skills in his current job – a problem that could easily be solved with a little more attention to detail.
5. Ask for it.
Make your intentions known! If you want the promotion, make sure your manager knows it. Ask what you need to do to get the job and get to work on those skills. Even if you don't understand this time, you will identify yourself as a potential candidate for the future or even another position.
6. Don't be afraid to use a little self-promotion.
Remind your manager of all the great initiatives you've accomplished at work. Don't expect your boss to necessarily know how great you are. You can fill in some rich details, which is also likely to make up for any perceived weakness. Getting promoted takes time, strategy, diligence, and commitment. Define what you want so that you are crystal clear when asking for the promotion. Do not rely entirely on your own self-assessment to achieve this. Ask a trusted colleague or mentor for feedback and listen to what they tell you. A little self-awareness will go a long way.
Act like you're already in the job you want, not the one you have. Acquire the skills you need. Take some of the load off your boss' desk. Demonstrate creative problem solving. And, don't forget to ask . It would be a shame to do all that work and miss it because you didn't make your intentions known.
Related: 6 signs it's time to promote someone
