Not getting that promotion? Here’s why
There’s a common misconception that no hark work goes unnoticed… it definitely does, if you don’t do this
As we grow throughout our careers, promotions are always on the goal list. Whether you’re looking for manager experience or more autonomy over your work, you are the one in control of your career so let’s act like it. I’m a huge advocate of always allowing, or creating, space and opportunity for you to grow whether you’re in the corporate world or not. For me, I always knew I’d be climbing the corporate ladder in some way, shape, or form. So after a year and a half in my now previous role, and a lot of learning and being challenged, I knew I was ready to make the next step. Today, I’m sharing how I got the ball rolling on my promotion, and how you can too, to reach your new level of growth.
Know Where You Stand
My company is very into processes and routines, and one of those routines is a quarterly appraisal. Our appraisal process is based around reflecting on the previous quarter and planning out the next. For me, this is a great opportunity to goal set with your manager about the tasks that need to be accomplished, both professionally and personally. During our quarterly (or even monthly) sessions, I tell them where we stand on projects, what I have planned out, and most importantly, we look at my skill-set and determine what works well and what doesn’t. Being 100% honest, one of my huge growth points was taking more control over my work and basically own projects from start to finish. I say this because those conversations gave me something specific to aim towards to ensure that I was on the right path to my promotion and, if successful, it shows your manager that you’re ready for your next challenge.
Increase Your Skill Set
About 8 months into my current role, I started to pinpoint the next area I wanted to go in for my career. It was outside of what I currently do so I had to figure out a way to develop the skills the role was requiring. I started reading books about the subject, taking Lynda courses, and actually began to work with some of the people in the department on projects together. I was able to tie in some of those skills into projects I was working on that helped me gain relevant experience. Remember, this is something that’s going to take time but it’s a great way to build your resume and make your experience more impactful. Now, in my new role, I’ve already got a good grasp on the basic fundamentals and foundation needed to get started.
Make an Impact
As an employee, your goal should always be for the greater good. Think about some ways you can really make a difference to your team and make things easier overall. If you find processes that are redundant, tell your manager and provide a new and improved solution that’s more relevant. See a better way to communicate information or changes? Create your proposal, plan, and then implement. Be sure to track the results so you can show the improvements. If you’re able to leave a mark and make things easier, it’s a huge win!
Speak Up!
This one might go without saying but, you never know if you don’t ask! Well, in this case tell, but you get the idea. Your manager can’t promote you if they don’t know you want to be promoted. Whether it’s a job promotion or lateral move, this is in line with knowing where you stand, but telling your manager you’re ready or asking their thoughts is key. It’s poor practice to go behind your manager’s back and apply for an internal role and it’s SO much better if you have someone advocating to executives on your behalf. Even if they say you aren’t ready, take it in stride and then ask what you need to do in order to get there, then go ahead and do those things. That way, in a few months, you’ll be able to show you took the direction, feedback, and answered their concerns.
