What do you do if you want to get promoted?

1 Assess your readiness

The first step to getting a promotion is to honestly evaluate your current performance, skills, and potential. Ask yourself these questions: Are you consistently meeting or exceeding your targets and expectations? Are you taking on extra responsibilities and initiatives? Are you showing leadership and teamwork skills? Are you learning new things and improving your expertise? Are you aligned with the vision and values of the organization? If you can answer yes to most of these questions, you are likely ready to take on a higher role.

2 Identify your goals

The next step is to clarify what kind of promotion you want and why. Do you want to move up in your current function, or switch to a different one? Do you want to manage a team, or focus on a specialized area? Do you want to work on more strategic or complex projects, or have more autonomy and flexibility? What are the benefits and challenges of each option? How do they align with your career aspirations and personal interests? Having a clear vision of your goals will help you plan your actions and communicate your intentions.

3 Build your network

One of the key factors that can influence your chances of getting a promotion is your network. Your network includes not only your direct manager and colleagues, but also other stakeholders, such as clients, vendors, senior leaders, and mentors. You need to build and maintain positive and professional relationships with these people, and showcase your achievements and contributions. You also need to seek feedback and advice from them, and learn from their experiences and insights. Your network can help you identify opportunities, advocate for you, and support you in your career development.

4 Develop your skills

Another essential factor for getting a promotion is your skills. You need to demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge required for the next level, and that you are willing and able to learn new ones. You can develop your skills by taking on challenging assignments, volunteering for cross-functional or cross-departmental projects, attending training courses or workshops, reading books or articles, or joining professional associations or communities. You can also ask your manager or mentor for guidance and recommendations on how to improve your skills and fill any gaps.

5 Communicate your interest

The final step is to communicate your interest and readiness for a promotion to your manager and other relevant decision-makers. You can do this by having regular and honest conversations with them, expressing your goals and expectations, highlighting your accomplishments and strengths, asking for feedback and suggestions, and showing enthusiasm and confidence. You can also prepare a portfolio or resume that showcases your work and achievements, and use it as a tool to demonstrate your value and potential. You should also be prepared to negotiate your salary and benefits, and handle any objections or questions.

Getting a promotion is not easy, but it is possible if you follow these steps and work hard and smart. Remember that getting a promotion is not only a reward, but also a responsibility and an opportunity. You need to be ready to face new challenges, learn new skills, and deliver more value to the organization and your clients.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?