What do you do if you want to get promoted within an organization?

Here's my understanding of career growth. Every Organisation is solving a problem (call it - real problem). The solutions to these problems create newer problems (call it aux problems). The closer we get to solving the real problem, the closer we grow to leadership positions. Using all your resources to solve your current business challenges (aux problems) makes you irreplaceable. Way forward: 1. Plan how to solve the aux problems using all your resources (talent + connections) 2. Own upto the solution 3. Become that key talent, orgs would want to promote

1. Go beyond your role and responsibilities 2. Assure you are well-networked in your organization 3. Add value to your leaders and promote the achievement of your business unit 4. Learn new skills by getting involved in new tasks or taking initiative 5. Become solutions to others instead of question bank to others

1. Show up. Being present for meetings, internal discussions, and engagements is critical. 2. Build relationships. Developing several relationships with different leaders is important. 3. Do quality work. At the end of the day, it's about performance. Make sure you are delivering quality results. 4. Apply when opportunities present themselves. Don't disqualify yourself. Let the organization know by actually applying for opportunities when they arise. This will out your name on the radar that you are interested in being a leader within the organization.

In my personal opinion, it comes down to a few things: 1. How indispensable you are/how painful it would be for the company to replace you should you decide to leave; 2. How visible you are - generally I think when it comes round to promotions, management should all say "yeah I know that guy", versus "who?"; 3. The quality and accountability of your work; 4. Luck/timing - sometimes, you have all three, but sometimes, the departure of a manager may cause a reflex action resulting in someone you perceive as less deserving being bumped up, rather than you. If number 4 happens, fret not, just keep on working on numbers 1 through 3. Your time will come!

1) Take the time to reflect upon your career aspirations. 2) Reflect on your passion, purpose, and values 3) Reach out for support - Talk to your manager's mentors or find a coach 4) Talk to people at different positions/levels in your organisation to gain perspective 5) Consider your strengths and talents and how you can use them to leverage your growth and career

Continuously develop and refine your skills to align with the requirements of the desired position. Seek out training opportunities, attend workshops or conferences, and pursue certifications relevant to your field.

Gain Skills: Seek out professional development opportunities tailored to your industry and career goals. Take on projects or assignments that expose you to specific challenges or opportunities within your field.

Acquiring new skills is essential, but it's equally important to focus on skills that are relevant and in demand within your organization. Tailor your skill development efforts to meet the specific needs of your role and the organisation's direction.

Investing in continuous learning, documenting your achievements, and maintaining a proactive approach to personal and professional growth will enhance your qualifications and increase the likelihood of you securing a promotion within the organization. These strategic efforts distinguish you as a valuable contributor and position you for success in advancing your career.

Cultivate strong relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and decision-makers within the organization. Networking internally can increase visibility and support for your promotion.

Networking internally will help you develop systems thinking and connect the dots across organizations. Great opportunities for innovation and reducing friction exist in these intersections, where different organizations pass the baton. Seeing the pattern is a critical skill to develop and that can happen with fostering collaborative networks.

Network Internally: Cultivate relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and industry peers. Engage with professional networks and forums relevant to your industry to expand your connections.

TIFF TIP: When networking internally - especially when everyone is remote - it can help to become visible in places where people already are by sharing status reports, asking questions, or adding things that foster a growth mindset like starting a book club.

Those who get promoted are usually ALREADY demonstrating qualities and skills required for the next role. Instead of being calculative and only doing what's within your scope in your current role, be willing to lean in and show that you are capable to start taking on work of the next level. Individual contributor who gets promoted to people managers often demonstrate great leadership skills to junior or other stakeholders in their current role.

To get promoted within an organization, demonstrate exceptional performance in your current role by exceeding expectations, taking on additional responsibilities, and consistently delivering results. Build strong relationships with colleagues and superiors, seek feedback for improvement, and actively participate in professional development opportunities. Proactively communicate your career goals to your manager and express your interest in advancement. Identify areas where you can contribute value to higher-level positions and showcase your readiness for increased responsibility. Lastly, stay adaptable, resilient, and patient, as promotions may require time and organizational considerations.

Taking initiative is commendable, but it's essential to do so strategically. Instead of taking on every task that comes your way, prioritize projects that align with your career goals and demonstrate your ability to add significant value to the organisation.

By consistently demonstrating a proactive approach and willingness to take on challenges, you not only differentiate yourself within the organization but also pave the way for career advancement opportunities. Your efforts position you as a valuable contributor and potential leader, making you a strong candidate for future growth and development within the company.

Show Initiative: Demonstrate proactive problem-solving and innovation within your organization. Volunteer for cross-functional projects or initiatives to showcase your capabilities.

Express your interest in advancement to your supervisor or HR department. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss your career development goals and inquire about potential promotion opportunities.

TIFF TIP: In addition to sharing your career goals with your direct manager and stakeholders with approval power, it is important to (1) identify what the expectations truly are so that you know when and if you are aligned and (2) equip your advocates with the information they need to speak up for you in rooms where you are not.

Have open discussions with your manager or mentor about your career aspirations. Seek feedback on how you can further develop your skills and capabilities for advancement.

As you reflect and build this into your communication plan, work on getting really specific about the outcomes you have delivered - not just the activities you have undertaken. When you can express your experience in terms of value contribution it makes those conversations more tangible and helps you stand out. Ideally think about contribution and value from a range of angles: 1. business outcomes 2. team and culture outcomes that you contributed to 3. Personal growth/continuous learning outcomes

Reflect on your career progress and seek feedback to gain insights into areas for improvement. Adapt your career advancement strategy based on industry developments and emerging trends.

@Alice Williams... I agree.. It not just "will it make the boat go faster?" and more "what made the boat go faster!" a quote from the great Colin Russell!

1. *Perform Excellently*: Consistently excel in your current role, exceeding expectations whenever possible. 2. *Seek Feedback**l: Request feedback from supervisors and actively work on areas for improvement. 3. *Show Initiative*: Take on additional responsibilities or projects that demonstrate your leadership potential. 4. *Network*: Build strong relationships with colleagues and leaders across different departments. 5. *Communicate Goals*: Express your career aspirations to your manager and seek opportunities for growth. 6. *Continuously Learn*: Stay updated with industry trends and seek professional development opportunities. 7. *Be Patient and Persistent*: Promotions often take time, so stay patient and continue striving for excellence.

1. Exceed Expectations: Consistently go above and beyond in your current role. Take on additional responsibilities, volunteer for challenging projects, and demonstrate leadership qualities even before you're officially promoted. 2. Showcase Achievements: Document your achievements and contributions to the organization. Quantify your impact whenever possible and highlight specific examples of how you've added value to projects or initiatives. 3. Be Patient and Persistent: Understand that the promotion process may take time, and there may be factors beyond your control. Stay patient and persistent in your pursuit, maintaining a positive attitude and continuing to demonstrate your value.

Recognize the importance of workplace values such as teamwork, collaboration, and adaptability. Be mindful of cultural nuances and sensitivities in your communication and behaviour within the workplace.

consider the SMART framework criteria, often used in goal-setting but applicable to career advancement as well: Specific: Clearly define the promotion you aspire to and the steps required to achieve it. Measurable: Identify key performance indicators (KPIs) or milestones that can be used to track progress towards your promotion goals. This might include metrics related to skill acquisition, project completion, or feedback received Achievable: Relevant: Time-bound: By applying the SMART framework to your promotion strategy, you can enhance clarity, accountability, and effectiveness in pursuing advancement opportunities within your organization.

Definitely, being clear about the organization's objectives and ensuring that my individual objectives are in line with them is crucial. Likewise, working to strengthen our strengths necessary for our role and those needed for promotion are crucial in the process. Our relationships not only with our team and leaders but also with other areas of the organization are important because it creates synergy and favors our image.