Are you feeling frustrated about being overlooked for a promotion at work? Despite your dedication and hard work, you find yourself stuck in the same role, which can be disheartening.
To start, it's essential to clarify what promotion means to you. For some, it's about moving up the career ladder for increased responsibilities and higher pay. For others, it's about expanding skills and experiences through lateral moves.
If your goal is upward growth and financial advancement, remember that promotions are now based on future potential rather than past achievements. Companies look for employees who can contribute to their future success in different roles.
Here are four steps you can take to increase your chances of a promotion:
1. Train a colleague
If you are seen as indispensable in your current role, you may not be promoted. You are simply too good at what you do! Consider training a colleague to handle your responsibilities, showcasing your expertise and facilitating knowledge sharing.
2. Mentor
If your promotion involves a managerial role, demonstrate your leadership potential by mentoring others. This shows your commitment to personal growth and development, making you a strong candidate for a managerial position.
3. Stay informed
Stay attuned to developments within your organization and industry. Anticipate future changes and identify what your organization needs to do to prepare for them. Whilst in your current role, engage in projects that will benefit the organization in the future. You could even take the lead on these initiatives.
4. Increase your visibility
Promotions are not solely based on your performance but also on how well others know about your capabilities. Practise "working out loud" by sharing your work, ideas, and progress openly with colleagues beyond your immediate team. This transparency and collaboration can enhance your visibility within the organisation.
Working out loud can involve updating others on your projects and initiating discussions with a broader audience beyond your direct supervisor. Utilise various communication channels such as email, meetings, online forums, or collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams to share insights, lessons learned, innovative approaches, opinions, or external research.
Ref: ‘Working out Loud; For a better career and life’ by John Stepper