5 Reasons Why You May Not Get The Promotion You Want

You may have been passed over for a key promotion. It may have left you angry, frustrated, and unsure of how to get ahead. Few organizations spell out the criteria for advancement. Let’s take a look at how you can go about preparing to get the next promotion opportunity. 

1.   You didn’t ask for it.

Share your promotion aspirations with your supervisor. Be specific about what you want and ask about what you need to do to get promoted. Your aim is to prove that you are already working at the level you want to be promoted to. In that case, you need to be prepare to provide concrete metrics of your work impact, descriptions of solutions you’ve delivered and the financial outcomes of your impact. You should also have ready data from other departments or customer/employee survey data that support your case.  

2.   You’re just a doer.

You have to demonstrate that you are going to be better for the company at the higher level. So, find ways to showcase your leadership capabilities. Some promotional situations require that you share who you would consider as your successor. If you are working to develop someone else, that showcases your leadership capabilities and takes the load off of leadership when they know there is someone in the pipeline that can take over your old responsibilities. 

3.   You don’t brag effectively.

Never assume your hard work will be remembered. Share regular progress reports with your supervisor. When you have a career win, send a quick email to your boss (e.g. “Got leadership to support the proposal! Can’t wait to tell you more about it.”) Managers want employees to go to them with good news. That way they can share the good news with their manager. 

4.   You haven’t earned respect.

People above and below you have to respect you. If you can’t work well with others, people will not see you as a valued partner. The best way to earn respect from others is to help others succeed. Don’t get angry or jump the gun when your direct reports, peers, or boss make a mistake. Simply help them get the job done and done right. When you lift up those around you, everyone rises and you will get respect points in their eyes. 

 5.   You don’t self-assess.

Always work to close the gap between what the next level position requires and your current skills and abilities. Make an effort to find out what the job entails from the hiring manager’s point of view. Ask if he or she is satisfied with your work and it there is anything you can do differently. The feedback will help you close any gaps and meet the requirements of the position you want. 

No matter what it feels like in the heat of the moment, not getting promoted is not the end of the world. You will get another shot.

So, don’t use this as your excuse to toss in the towel and skate by. Instead, take a deep breath, move on with your head high and continue doing the very best work you possibly can. Remember, living well is the very best revenge because someone else will notice your worth and reward it. 

Mary Ann Samedi is a seasoned talent development consultant, instructor, facilitator, leadership coach, and the creator of Set to Lead, a leadership podcast. She enjoys helping busy leaders get results with proven systems to accelerate team impact and improve team retention without the overwhelm. For more team success and career strategies, visit https://www.settolead.com.