GAIN support for your promotion

Getting a promotion can feel endlessly elusive. How do you get clarity on what you need to do to get promoted and then demonstrate that you met those requirements?? Once you have clarity on your goal, then you’re ready for important conversations.?

Whether it’s your first conversation or your next one, you can use a simple 4-step template to gain the support you need to move forward.? This model will help you gather your thoughts, focus the conversation and make it easy for your manager to say “yes”!?

G - Gain:? State a clear and realistic objective.?

• I’m ready to grow my career and be considered for a promotion. I’d like to use this conversation to get aligned with you on where I am today and what I can do next to move forward.

TIP: Think about this as one of many career conversations.?

A - Ah-a: Share key insights from your personal learning journey.?

• I’ve discovered I have a natural ability to mentor others as well as consistently meet deadlines. I recently received feedback that I can sometimes get so focused on my own work that I may miss the impact my work has on others.?

TIP: Think about your natural strengths and potential blind spots. It’s okay to speak to the feedback you’ve received, including development opportunities.

I - Input: Invite your manager to give you input on the a-ha moments you shared. Ask for additional feedback and insights that would help or hurt your ability to achieve your goal.

• Can you think of any examples where my mentoring skills have helped the team?
• What other skills have you seen me demonstrate that will help me be considered for a promotion?
• What have you observed around my extreme focus on completing my own deliverables? What impacts has this had?
• If I were to focus on developing one or two areas in the immediate future that would help me be more qualified for a promotion, what comes to mind?

TIP: Prepare a few targeted questions, but be open to additional insights from the other party.?

N- Next: Present your “ask” by sharing your desired next steps. Identify the support you need and how you will continue the conversation.?

• Based on our conversation, I’d like to work with you on further leveraging my leadership skills by volunteering to mentor our summer interns. This will help them get up to speed faster as well as reduce the amount of time they need from you.?
• I would also like to complete a project management course to help me connect the dots in the projects I'm currently participating in.?
• Is this something you can support me on?
• Let’s set some deadlines, including our next career conversation.?

TIP: Be prepared with specific development opportunities you’re interested in, but also be open to new ideas your manager may present.? Most importantly, share how your manager or team will benefit from you taking these actions.

By using our GAIN career conversation model, you will feel more confident, but also make sure you leave the conversation with real action that will move you forward!

Are you ready to prepare for your promotion? Consider the resources below to create more clarity and customize your path!

LinkedIn Office hours: Join me in a live session where I will answer your career questions