When gunning for a promotion, don't dismiss the politics

Your promotion doesn’t rest solely in your boss’s hands, especially if you are in a big company. The boss of your boss will need to approve your promotion. The boss of the boss of your boss will likely need to approve it too. Representatives from HR department will also be there on the day of deliberations. You should know by now that most companies have promotion boards in which department heads or managers deliberate and loosely vote for a candidate's promotion.

Ask yourself: How much do these guys know about you? Do they know that you’re the department’s rock star? Do they know that you’ve been managing your team well whenever your boss is on leave? These things matter because promotion boards decide largely on anecdotes, stories, and memories people remember. These are events and experiences that you have done in the past that indicate your readiness to kick ass in the new position.

When aiming for the prize, make sure your visibility and presence are felt in the organization consistently. Yes, it sucks to "create your stage" so people can "watch your show". But this is life. Everyone is too busy to notice and observe you. It is your duty and responsibility to get people's attention. Consider these VIPs as your “sponsors” and you are Katniss or Peeta in The Hunger Games. You don’t need to spread your peacock feathers to get yourself known, but taking a proactive role to engage them when the moment is apt. Take those short elevator moments, those opportunities to reply to an e-mail, and those moments of contributing meaningful ideas during a meeting. They will helpfully remind them why you’re worth it. When the day of your promotion's deliberation happens, ask yourself: who will sponsor you? Who will raise his hand and say, "Yes, I support his promotion as a senior manager."? 

Does it sound unfair? Does it sound like extra work? YES IT IS. And again, such is life. Can't deal with the politics and the show? Then probably this world isn't for you, which doesn't mean you're wrong or less of a person. Forcing yourself to be in this company or in the corporate world, may be something you want to think twice about. But you also don't have the right to complain everyday if you're not doing anything about your promotion. To get something you want, you have to show and shout it out to the universe for it to conspire.

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Jonathan Yabut is the Filipino winner of the hit Asian reality TV show, The Apprentice Asia, and is currently based in Kuala Lumpur as the managing director of his own digital marketing consultancy firm, The JY Consultancy & Ventures. Jonathan is Asia’s leading motivational speaker on topics involving leadership, development of Gen Y workers, and career management for Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of Southeast Asia’s 2015 best-selling motivational book, From Grit to Great. In winning the show, Jonathan served for one year as the young apprentice and Chief of Staff of AirAsia reporting directly to Group CEO, Tony Fernandes.