Getting That Promotion at Work

Has this ever happened to you?

You spend hours on the latest project. You’re in the office well after everyone has gone home. Maybe you’re online managing the drudge work, entering all the data, or finalizing the details no one else wants to do.

Why?

Because you feel certain that if you work the hardest, you will be chosen to fill that vacant executive position. Surely, your tireless efforts won’t be overlooked. Your company would be dead in the water without you!

What’s happening here?

The Real Reason People Get Promoted

When your senior leaders look for who to promote, they don’t ask themselves, “Who’s my hardest worker?” In fact, they stay away from people who remain in the minutiae of complex projects. Instead, they look for a specific mindset, leadership ability, communication skills, good connections, and anyone who has set a clear path forward.

There are four key things you need to take your place at the top, and, surprisingly, a great work ethic is an extremely small part of the overall reason.

1. The right mindset

Companies have specific missions/goals that they want to achieve. Most people in the office have a unique view on each of these goals and the best way forward. An effective leader finds the best way forward and not because it’s right and everyone else’s way is wrong, but because it’s the most workable.

Rather than getting bogged down by details and expectations, a true leader knows that everyone needs to see progress to keep going. Your team will lose momentum by holding endless meetings about the pros and cons of different methods. Pick a path and move forward.

Think about workability, not right and wrong ways. Here are some mental exercises to help you shift your mindset:

● Practice active listening by repeating back key words said to you, without judgment

● Get out of the weeds and focus on how this project will help everyone at the company reach their goals and objectives

● Work on your self-awareness with a professional like a therapist or career coach

● Give your most important tasks priority over everything else so you can achieve your overall goal. It might mean letting the little things slide (temporarily)

2. Map out your five-year plan

If your hope is to get promoted to a higher position, make sure the people in charge of promotions in your group know your goals. Sit down with your leaders and lay out a five-year plan for yourself at the company and clarify what is needed from you to get to that position. Do you need to be a better listener, develop more skills, or improve upon your leadership skills?

Once you have a better idea of what’s needed, you can start to plan your next steps and move forward. Bonus - you won’t stress so much as opportunities come up if you know you’re on the right track. Even if this promotion doesn’t go to you, there’s an increased chance the next one is yours.

3. Stay visible

Whenever possible, find a way to get your name, face, or physical presence in front of the right people at your company. Go to meetings with prepared notes you think might add value to the discussion. Publish articles in the company newsletter. Offer to lead a committee or project that’s close to your heart.

When you show your leadership team that you enjoy the spotlight, they may offer you opportunities to take on new challenges, represent the company, or speak publicly. Say Yes! These moves put you next to fellow leaders and keep your name top of mind when it’s time to pick a new manager.

If these moves feel too audacious for you, try working with a career coach. A professional guide can help you face those fears, focus on your goals, find opportunities to be more visible and conquer your self-doubt.

4. Network within your company

Internal networking is a long-term, high-value practice that comes with massive returns. It’s also a ton of fun.

Start by getting to know everyone on your team to understand them more as people. Ask about their families, hobbies, aspirations (career or otherwise). Let them know you’d like to know their role at the company better and see if they might be up for a coffee chat sometime.

A coffee chat is a light, casual chat over your favorite drink at a nearby café. Schedule 30 minutes for each of these and send a friendly email invite and reminder to make it happen. Your goal here is to listen; you want to know everything about this person’s job, roadblocks, and methods.

This accomplishes a few goals. First, it helps you understand your colleagues and how each of them works. Second, it helps build your confidence when approaching new people as a professional. Third, it pushes you to start networking beyond your department and reaching out to others who work in capacities completely unlike your own. Fourth, it creates visibility.

When you extend your reach beyond your peers, approach new people with curiosity about their work. If someone is a programmer, ask if he or she can tell you more about the position and how they work each day. Pay attention, ask follow-up questions about each position, and be respectful of the work. The key is to interact with each person with curiosity.

Ready to change your career?

Visit www.jobseekersedge.com to obtain coaching and support to unlock your true potential.