How can you build strong relationships with colleagues and superiors to get a promotion?

Here are 3 types of managers and what they value: 1. "People" managers. They care about stakeholders, inclusivity, and ethics. ● Employee engagement ● Societal benefits ● Team dynamics When you want to share an idea with them, make sure to describe who will benefit. 2. "Metrics" managers. They care about numbers. ● Data analysis ● Sales revenue ● Cost reduction ● Timelines and deadlines When you want them to like an idea, give them a spreadsheet, and/or explain how the numbers will look good. 3. "Mission" managers They care about excellence. ● Customer satisfaction ● Operational efficiency ● Technical innovation ● Sustainability If you want them to value your ideas, frame them in terms of advancing a mission they love.

Building stronger relationships with your leadership to get promotions can be a bit of a slippery slope with the rest of the team you work with. Make sure your intentions are clear with the people you work with, as favouritism can create toxicity in the workplace. Make your intentions clear with your leadership team and highlight that you are interested in moving up in your career with the company to support your career development goals. Ask what you can be involved in that would support your efforts to move up. Ask your leadership if there are things you can help with, when you have spare moments of time. Often leaders have work that can be delegated that provides more responsibility to team members.

Understand and leverage your unique working style, aligning it with organizational values and goals, as seen in how Indian entrepreneur Ratan Tata's leadership style complemented the ethos of the Tata Group

Because people dont only have work interests, it's important that you know what outside interests your superiors and colleagues have so that when you encounter relevant info that will increase their knowledge of their extra-curricula interests because it affects workplace performance and outcomes.

Actively engage in empathetic and attentive listening, exemplified by Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, who emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture that values diverse perspectives through active listening.

Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn and flaunt your accomplishments. So often, we expect others to know how much we contribute when most don’t have a clue. Very few people are in forward-facing roles where everyone in the company can see exactly what they do and whether they do it well. Mention how amazing you are and how hard-hitting your work is at every opportunity.

It is not uncommon to look at building relationships with an end in mind but it is often the reason why end goal in mind is not achieved. In my experience relationship building and investing in a working relationship yo build trust and credibility should be the end and getting promoted should be the by product. In his landmark book on the 7 habits of highly effective people Stephen Covey says one must invest in relationships by making deposits and only once that is done well and enough should withdrawals be made!