How to Get Promotion? the approach of many employees, and maybe you as well, to get 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’ll 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.
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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 this article, we will look for a step-by-step guide to getting the promotion you deserve.
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
A. 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’ve 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.
B. 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 hard enough. You must have a firm grasp of your workplace culture and figure out other factors that will help you climb the hierarchy. It’s 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.
C. 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 she 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, but it could also make your superiors form a less than favorable impression about you.
D. Companies will only recruit existing staff to senior positions:
You may believe that you’re 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’re not convinced that they have anyone with the required skill set on their payroll.
E. The grass is greener elsewhere:
Some employees use the request for promotion to test the resolve of their employers with the mindset that if they’re rejected, they’ll 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.
2. Identify The Relevant Opportunities in Your Organization:
When you’re planning your career, you must have a comprehensive knowledge of the organizational structure of your workplace. 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 might be the 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 for a new growth opportunity to revive your organization, you could make a case for why you should lead such a venture. Learning from others you got promoted is another way to identify promotion opportunities in your organization. Look at the factors that influence their promotion, their skill set, 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.
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’re an employee with enormous leadership potential instead of a mere cog in the wheel. So how can you become promotable?
A. 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 and that you deserve a more prominent position. Also, you need to be a team player.
If you’re someone that makes enemies easily and you’re 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 booze of your colleagues. You must drive 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.
B. Develop your skills and be recognized for your work ethic:
The knowledge and skill set 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’re 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.
C. 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, and volunteer to work in committees, but do not jeopardize your efficiency in your current position in the process.
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’re 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.
5. Ask to Get Promotion and You Shall Receive:
The fact that you’re the most qualified for a role can be very relevant if your employers believe that you are content with where you are. This can make your employers overlook you when they’re 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
A. Prepare your case.
You’ve 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.
B. 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.
C. 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 benefited an organization while you feel you can contribute more in a senior role. Outline your plans if you get the role.
D. If there is no room – consider moving on
If you get a no but you are giving encouraging feedback on the steps you need to take to handle a role in the future and you should probably hang around and work harder. However, if your employer makes clear you have reached C-line and there is no upward mobility then get out fast. Sometimes you need to cut your losses and move on.