Scoring a promotion
Are you looking to get ahead and earn more money? Here are seven strategies to help you become a prime candidate for your desired position.
1. Provide exceptional value. Lots of people provide value to their organizations, but few do so in an extraordinary way. You can increase your worth by doing the following:
- Increase your skills so you can deliver better results for your team.
- Make yourself indispensable. If the thought of losing you to a competitor is alarming to your manager, you’ll be much more likely to score the next available promotion.
- Take on the tough jobs that others are shying away from.
2. Take note of who is getting promoted. Certain personality traits or achievements in some companies tend to lead to a promotion. In other organizations, those who demonstrate strong social skills or have a knack for being a team player are most likely to move up the corporate ladder. Be aware of how promotions work in your organization so you can fine-tune your behavior accordingly.
3. Don’t wait to get noticed. Toot your own horn. Many workers believe if they do good work, people will notice. If only this were true. Look for opportunities where you can showcase your skills and be sure to remind your boss of your accomplishments well before your annual review.
4. Act like a leader. Be the person who takes the lead on a project. Offer to cover for your boss while they are on vacation. Be the person who identifies and solves problems.
5. Be reliable. Become the person your boss can depend on regardless of the situation.
6. Invest in yourself. Hire a coach to help you identify behaviors that might be getting in the way of your career advancement. Spend the necessary time to modify these behaviors.
7. Ask for the promotion. Don’t make the common mistake of thinking your boss knows you want a promotion. Tell your manager exactly what you’re looking for in terms of career advancement and be sure to remind them occasionally.
