The Key to Landing Your Next Promotion

I was twenty-four years old when I asked for my first promotion and no one was more surprised than me that I actually was awarded the position. I'm a bit older now and in hindsight I should not have been shocked. I was prepared for that promotion. What I seemed to be lacking in was self confidence.

The key to landing your next promotion is courage, which seems to be in short supply. Here's how I see this play out time and time again.

A new position is about to open up in your department and it's one pay grade above yours. The job sounds intriguing. You then look at the requirements and realize you're missing a few. You decide to "wait until you're ready." The job is awarded to a co-worker, who on paper is far less qualified than you. Yep, happens all the time.

Those with the courage to step up and ask for a promotion are the ones who usually are awarded the job. Why? Because they're top of mind and they've made it quite clear they are interested in taking on more responsibility. They're also seen as being assertive, which is a highly valued trait in many organizations.

Know that you know what you need, here's how to get the confidence you need in order to ensure the next promotion goes to you. There are seven things you can immediately do to view yourself in a better light. In the interest of time, here are three.

Understand that speed trumps perfection. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Few people have all the requirements that are listed for a promotion. Waiting until such time as you do, will only result in frustration and disappointment. If you've got at least fifty percent of what's needed, go for it! What's the worse that can happen? Your boss says no and you then ask her specifically what you need to work on so that you can be a viable candidate the next time a promotion becomes available.

Promotability starts with mindset. We all know people who express self-doubt more than others. When a leader looks to promote someone, they want to be sure this person will come across as credible. Not going to happen if that little guy on your shoulder keeps telling you that you're not good enough and that you'd be foolish to think otherwise. You've got to flick that pesky negative mindset off your shoulder. Start by looking closely at the people you're hanging around with. Are they negative and constantly trying to pull you into their orbit? If so, it's time for a new set of friends and acquaintances.

Positive self-talk. There's always two ways to look at everything. For example, a half-filled glass of water is either half full or half empty. Optimism is a learned behavior. Every time you catch yourself speaking negatively, challenge yourself to reframe the conversation in a way that is positive. Keep practicing and it won't be long before you're seen as someone who is the type of person that others enjoy being around. And believe me when I tell you, people who are well liked are much more likely to get promoted than those who are not.

I'm conducting a teleconference on Friday, December 1st to help people obtain a promotion in the New Year. There's a good chance, I won't be doing this again. The session will be recorded. Register here!  

? Matuson Consulting, 2017. All Rights Reserved.

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