How To Get A Promotion The approach of many employees and maybe you
as well is to getting a promotion is to hunker down, work harder, and hope their hard work
speaks for itself.
They believe getting promoted is out of their hands, and that only their boss can decide
when they will be promoted.
The reality is more complicated.
The truth is that, often, it is employees that show they deserve promotion and ask for
it, that get promoted.
A promotion comes with a lot of advantages.
It means career advancement, more income, more authority, more influence, and a host
of other perks.
But getting promoted is not easy.
According to David Pernell, the author of In-House: A Lawyer’s Guide to Getting a
Corporate Legal Position, “When compared to a few decades ago, today’s
employees have a bigger workload and better-skilled competition to contend with.
Also, to be promoted means to advance to new territory, and that requires new knowledge,
skills, and new experiences.”
He went further and said, employees of today need to master the complex social and political
networks that govern today’s workplaces.
So, how can you get a promotion?
In today’s video, I will show you a step by step guide to getting the promotion you
deserve.
But before we begin, do you feel like you deserve a promotion, if you do hit the like
button.
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So let’s begin…
Step 1: Dispense With Common Misconceptions About Workplace Promotion
There are several beliefs that many employees hold that have made it difficult if not impossible
for them to advance within the organizations they work for.
Some of them are: 1.
Length of service equals promotion Many employees see promotion as a right.
They expect it without taking the time to identify the factors that influence the thinking
of their bosses when promoting staff.
The fact that you have been a loyal employee of an organization for many years does not
automatically make you qualified for a promotion.
It is your value to your organization and your suitability for the role that will move
you up the ladder.
2.
Office promotion is based solely on merit In many organizations, office politics play
a significant role in the promotion process.
Talent and hard work are hardly enough.
You must have a firm grasp of your workplace culture and figure out other factors that
will help you climb the hierarchy.
It is also vital that you avoid stepping on toes.
Most organizations have established hierarchies with customary responsibilities that are expected
of the holder of each position.
Trying to impress management by handling the responsibilities of your seniors without their
consent can win you, enemies.
Your actions can be interpreted as a threat.
This means your core focus should be on excelling at your duties and tackling any additional
responsibility that is duly assigned to you with efficiency.
3.
Flattery and a good relationship with the boss will lead to promotion
This can work, but the vast majority of the time, it doesn’t.
Complimenting your boss and having a good relationship with him or her is a good thing.
But don’t think that alone will get you promoted.
To get promoted, you need to convince your employers that you deserve it and that you’ll
be ideal for the role.
Sucking up to the boss will not only attract the contempt of your colleagues; it could
also make your superiors form a less-than-favorable impression about you.
4.
Companies will only recruit existing staff to senior positions
You may believe that you are the only employee in your organization that is qualified for
an open position.
Thus, the job will undoubtedly be yours.
Don’t be deceived, organizations regularly recruit outside talent to leadership positions
if they are not convinced that they have anyone with the required skillset on their payroll.
5.
The grass is greener elsewhere Some employees use a request for promotion
to test the resolve of their employers with the mindset that if they are rejected, they
will leave.
The truth is, getting a new job can be very difficult, depending on the demand for new
staff in your industry.
Also, when you leave your workplace, you lose your accumulated history and goodwill, and
you will need to start all over again at your new job.
Now that you know some of the misconceptions, let’s look at…
Step 2: Identify The Relevant Opportunities In Your Organization
When you are planning your career, you must have a comprehensive knowledge of the organizational
structure of your work place.
You also need to be conversant with the trends in your industry and the new roles and responsibilities
that are being created by those trends.
You need to understand how your organization works, the promotion process, and how candidates
are identified and evaluated.
The health of your organization is also essential.
If your organization is thriving and exploring new growth areas, you must find a way to get
involved in those new areas.
Build strong relationships with decision-makers in your organization and meet them to learn
more about growth opportunities in your place of work.
Also, if your organization is going through financial difficulties, then it may be a wrong
time to ask for a promotion.
You really shouldn’t be asking your boss for a promotion when your colleagues are being
laid off due to slipping revenue.
On the other hand, adversity could present you with an opportunity to take on a more
critical role in your organization.
If you have innovative ideas of a new growth opportunity to revive your organization, you
could make a case for why you should lead such a venture.
Learning from others who got promoted is another way to identify promotion opportunities in
your organization.
Look at the factors that influenced their promotion, their skillset, and their accomplishments.
This will help you create an action plan that will get you from where you are to where you
want to be.
Step 3: Develop Yourself And Become Promotable A high-performing and ever-evolving employee
that understands the way his organization works will climb the ladder quickly.
On the other hand, the average employee who fails to evolve his strengths and improve
on his weaknesses will remain stagnant.
To become promotable, you need to improve continually and get your bosses to believe
that you are an employee with enormous leadership potential instead of a mere cog in the wheel.
So how can you become promotable?
6.
Be great at what you do and be a team player An average employee will not be considered
for leadership positions in most organizations.
If you want to be promoted, you need to show a level of competence that convinces your
employers that you are overqualified for your current role.
That you deserve a more prominent position.
Also, you need to be a team player.
If you are someone that makes enemies easily and you are tough to work with, your chances
of getting promoted will be severely impaired.
In most organizations, the acceptance of your colleagues is a crucial factor when being
considered for a senior role.
Your bosses want to announce your appointment to a chorus of approval and not to the boos
of your colleagues.
You must strive to cultivate a positive relationship with the majority of your colleagues.
You should treat people with respect and make them want to work for you.
7.
Develop your skills and be recognized for your work ethic
The knowledge and skillset you need for a senior role will likely include skills you
do not currently possess.
If you want to get promoted, you need to develop yourself further and get those skills.
You will only get a promotion if you are worthy of it.
So, if you are lazy, and your colleagues and bosses already identify you as a lazy worker,
you can kiss that promotion goodbye.
Hard work is the key to success.
You need to meet deadlines, be punctual, and exceed expectations in your current responsibilities.
When your employers see how much you care, and how capable you are, the promotion process
will be smoother.
8.
Be vocal and show your leadership skills You indeed need to be a team player.
Still, only individuals get promoted to senior positions and not the entire staff.
If you want to get promoted, you need to get noticed by your bosses.
You must take full advantage of any opportunity you get to showcase your talents and leadership
skills.
Take up responsibilities that show your suitability for a senior role: speak up in meetings, contribute
valuable ideas to projects, volunteer to work in committees.
But do not jeopardize your efficiency in your current position in the process.
Step 4: Indicate Your Willingness To Take On More Responsibility And Demonstrate Your
Value If you don’t create the impression that
you are not content with your current role and that you can take on more responsibility,
then you will likely remain where you are.
You can have a casual conversation with your boss and let your employers know that you
are interested in a more prominent role.
If you make your bosses know of your ambitions, they will likely show you the way to a senior
position.
With this sorted, it will be up to you to demonstrate your value to your organization
and show why you should be promoted.
Step 5: Ask For A Promotion Ask, and you shall receive.
The fact that you are the most qualified for a role can be very irrelevant if your employers
believe that you are content with where you are.
This could make your employers overlook you when they are evaluating their options for
a senior position.
However, asking for a promotion can be difficult for most people.
So how do you go about it?
Here’s how.
1.
Prepare your case You have invested time and effort to develop
your skills, contribute your share to the success of your organization, and cultivate
the right image for a senior position.
Then you need to prepare your portfolio of accomplishments and qualifications that will
show your bosses why you should be considered for a senior role.
To convince your boss, provide concrete evidence of how your impact has furthered the growth
of your organization, describe the accomplishments that make you qualified for the role, and
make a solid case for why you are the best person for the role.
2.
Set up a meeting with your boss and be prepared You need to choose a convenient time to state
your case for a promotion.
You should also practice your presentation with a trusted friend, spouse, or mentor to
calm your nerves.
3.
Ask your boss The promotion conversation is similar to a
job interview.
You need to exude confidence and convincingly sell yourself.
You must explain in detail how you have been of benefit to the organization.
Why do you feel you can contribute more in a senior role?
Outline your plans if you get the role.
4.
If there is no room – consider moving on If you get a no, but you are given encouraging
feedback on the steps you need to take to land the role in the future.
Then you should probably hang around and work harder.
However, if your employers make it clear that you have reached your ceiling and that there
is no upward mobility, then get out fast.
Sometimes you need to cut your losses and move on.
You should not get stale in an organization.
Sometimes, promotion is easier to attain elsewhere than at your current place of employment.
Thank you guys so much for watching.
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And with that said, I will see you in the next one.