Missed Your Leadership Promotion? Here's Why!

I just can’t believe I’m not getting that exec promotion.” I hear her frustration. “I mean,” She continues, “does the exec team have something against me?” Then, “This is a real mystery.”

“Oh crap,” I comment, “I’m sorry. I get your frustration.” I breathe and pause for a bit. “But I don’t think it’s a mystery.” A couple more seconds pass, “I know this is important to you, so I’m going to be blunt.” She’s listening, I can tell. “For sure there are forces at work that determined this promotion – timing, luck, chemistry, and other candidates, to name a few. But you ALWAYS determine the situation. There’s no mystery here. I want you to consider that one factor holding back this promotion is… YOU.”

Long pause, “I dunno,” she quips. “I thought I did all the right things. How am I actually holding myself back?”

I share, “When I was passed on for a promotion, I dug in for some self-examination. I asked for feedback from others and practiced self-awareness, and I faced some cold facts about myself.” I continue, “Frankly, it was a bit hard to stomach. But, eventually, it empowered me.” And I add, in a soft voice, “Exercising your self-awareness and seeing your part in the situation, this is how your build power and personal responsibility.”

Before you get mad at me for suggesting this, check out these six frequent reasons for not getting an exec promotion. Use these as mirrors of self-reflection, and see if any of these (or some version of these) is true for you.

(And to move beyond this, join my upcoming webinar, Why You’re Still Not CEO, and What to do About This.)

1.      You don’t manage your emotions

Now you know we’re not talking about excessive happiness, right? We’re talking about emotions that are meant to help you cope with emergencies and threats – the fight or flight responses – darker emotions like anger, fear, jealousy and aggression.

During stressful times these emotions are surges of electricity that give you strength and speed. But, and this is the problem, they also down shift your brain’s ability to think and to see the big picture. And even more problematic, these darker emotions, like anger, cause others to feel unsafe, and reduce psychological safety. If you’re not managing these emotions, you’re reducing your promotability.

2.     You are the master of execution (but not of strategy)

Historically, you’ve been promoted because you get things done. Kudos to you! So it just makes sense that driving for results will get you the exec promotion. Unfortunately, this logic is incomplete because execution isn’t enough for executive level leadership.

My CEO clients share with me that they’re looking for leaders who can execute, and that also have vision. CEOs are yearning for leaders with strategic insights and thinking. In fact, being overly focused on execution and ignoring strategy and long-term thinking is a material liability in executive promotions. Are you sufficiently proficient at strategic thinking and vision?

 3.      You hate politicking 

You may think that you’re taking the high road by ignoring office politics; but not paying attention to what’s happening in the workplace is a liability. Sure, office politics includes competition and sometimes even backstabbing. But it also includes diplomacy and alliance building. Politicking isn’t just schmoozing; it’s cultivating relationships and networks, and it can make or break your career.

You need political savvy to get that exec promotion. Do you have allies and champions that will advocate for you, support you, and back your initiatives? Are you that ally and champion for others? It’s just a fact that your work alone won’t get you promoted. Of course, be great at what you do. AND, you have to build relationships with key stakeholders, and strengthen your network of allies. 

 4.     You fight for your team (against other teams) 

Getting resources and opportunities, and clearing a path for your people’s success is an ongoing critical battle, for sure. In fact, nothing erases your team’s confidence in you than not having their backs. And over time you’ve been rewarded for having effective teams – one of the highest leadership tests is how your team is performing.

But when we’re talking about executive level leadership, then who is your team? At this level you have to shift your perspective – you must consider the whole organization as your team. Tricky, right? If you’re in the C-Suite as the head of accounting or HR or ops or sales, your responsibility is to the whole company. So ask yourself if you’re fighting for the whole org, or if you’re fighting for your functional team at the expense of other teams?

5.     You don’t follow through

Have you done any of these: scheduled a meeting and didn’t show up (whatever the reason); asked your team for suggestions and ideas, and then didn’t follow up with any updates or decision; broken your promises. Do you know how this make people feel? Well, they feel disrespected, undervalued, lied to, and discouraged. You see the problem here, don’t you? 

Don’t make promises you can’t keep, and you’ll be infinitely promotable. Lack of follow through diminishes your credibility, and with it your integrity, and your trustworthiness. So get super clear about your priorities, and be super sober about your resources – time, money, and people. Simply put, learn to match your ambition to your bandwidth, and your follow through and reputation will shine.

6.     You’re a superstar (but others aren’t) 

Ask yourself if you need to shine more brightly than everyone else. If your answer is “yes,” then you are a leadership liability. You, me and everyone we know thrives on getting credit, yes. To be exec material though, you have to flip the proportions, and shine the light of credit on others. 

As you rise in seniority you get less backslaps and attaboys. Most CEOs receive 10X blame than praise from their people. That’s why they find kudos outside the org from peer networks or industry associations. You have to move from taking space (I get praise, credit, and accolades), to holding space (I shine the light of credit and appreciation onto others). You will be promotable when you know that giving has more power than getting.

So remember, you DO determine your promotion. Yes, yes, there are factors outside your control. And yes, there are other reasons you may be getting in your own way. BUT, always look in the mirror and see if these reflections resemble you. If they do, you can address that – on your own or with help.

To learn even more, join my webinar, Why You’re Still Not CEO, and How to Change This, on September 24, 2020, and get more answers and tools for your exec promotion.

In the spirit of leading and learning

Eric