What do you do if you want to be considered for a promotion?

The seeds of a promotion are sown well in advance. Always be available. Never turn down an opportunity to contribute on special projects. Respect others and become known as a dependable team player. Never consider that something ‘is not your job’. Your job is to ensure success of the organization and those it serves. Embrace this philosophy, and rewards will present themselves when one least expects them.

Demonstrate that you can do the job of the role you want but make sure you maintain firm boundaries while doing so. Exceeding expectations is absolutely a great sign for leadership about your ability to grow but in certain environments it can be taken advantage of - something you want to avoid as much as possible.

I always communicate my professional goals with leadership early and often. Finding a mentor that understands the politics of your organization and has been with the company a long time can help you navigate the promotion path. Always strive to exceed expectations, but at the very least be consistent. Showing consistency can show reliability and responsibility to your craft. Networking with the leadership team who will be promoting you is key. Understanding their metrics will help you prove that you are ready for the promotion. Quarterly meetings with them help keep your finger on the pulse and ready for an open position to slip right into.

You have to be able to look at things differently, anticipate the need of customers/clients before they know they need it. A lot of comes with experience, but foundationally it starts with communication and networking with your clients and internal among your peers. Dive into industry trends and get educated in your area. There are good sites out there that give you the quick 5 minute summaries on fields in your area, always a good place to start.

First things first, promotion is an outcome of good work, so we should always focus on doing our best. However, it's also important to assertively communicate why we deserve a promotion. Sometimes, company policies or performance can impact promotions or raises, but it's important to be patient and negotiate for a good raise this year with the potential for a promotion next year. Keep pushing and don't give up!

Building strong relationships has been incredibly beneficial for me. As they say, it's essential to have people who genuinely care about your success in a room full of opportunities. This includes your supervisor, because ultimately, they have the most influence over whether you are ready for a promotion. Stay on good terms with them, always seek clarity when needed, and provide opportunities for them to work closely with you. This way, they can share their knowledge and expertise. Before you know it, you'll be a step closer, if not already there, to your promotion.

Networking within your organisation is of course important, and far too few actually do it intentionally. But let's consider the importance of being "well connected". Individuals who are well connected in industry have a strategic finger on the pulse in a way that hose who are cut off never will. This increases your value to the organisation. Networking in my opinion is the TOP skill you can learn for career progression!

I have witnessed individuals who network and think they are being productive just because they went to lunch and asked a few questions. My experience of an effective network is the relationship that is built when you contribute to another's success. When you know how to support and empower others, how to help others solve problems, and how well you guard sensitive information. Trust is essential when building an effective network.

1. Keep a list of every single achievement. Sometimes this is not obvious if KPIs are not measured. You need to estimate the impact of your work, especially the work outside your duties. It could be a suggestion you made which made service 50% faster. Or a colleague you trained who's now increase 10% sales. 2. Build a portfolio with the impact that you created and a stated goal of where you'd like to grow in the next few years. 3. Find an ally. It could be a colleague, your team, a leader, a mentor. Get them to write a recommendation letter for you. 4. Identify which skills you'll need to learn in your profession and show an understanding of the effort you will need to put in 5. Then ask for your promotion.

We must be intentional and disciplined to network and build partnerships and relationships! Seek to understand others first and then to be understood (Covey). Interact daily with everyone from the building janitor to the CEO and treat everyone with respect. Be available for others to be a mentor even if you do not have a formal mentoring program.

Continuously developing and showcasing new skills which are relevant and in demand in your organisation could potentially secure a promotion. At the same time, being flexible, possessing leadership skills and having good communication skills would also help.

Self-awareness is essential and involves an appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses, noting areas where improvement is needed. Demonstrate a commitment to self-improvement as it underscores your dedication to personal and professional growth. Keep up with industry trends and find mentorship or coaching opportunities to further hone your capabilities. Research the expectations and requirements of the target position, and tailor your development efforts accordingly. Cultivate a strategic mindset. Take ownership of your career trajectory by proactively seeking feedback, setting ambitious yet achievable goals, and aligning your efforts with the broader objectives of the organization.

Be too valuable to stay in your current position!🌿 Make it evident that you're putting in the work to become more valuable for the company. This will help you become even more valuable outside of work or when you change your organisation.

Mantener una actitud de aprendizaje permanente, sin atender a tu jerarquía estructural dentro de la organización, permite entablar y mantener relaciones con muchas áreas y facilita la comunicación asertiva.

When thinking about skills development make sure you also consider the “soft skills” such as emotional intelligence, influence, speaking, etc. these skills are often equally, if not more so, important than the hard skills you probably already have. When developing “hard skills” make sure to research whether the program will actually help you - there are so many certifications these days that you really want to get the ones that are meaningful and significant in your industry and not just an easy “attendance” certificate.

When you learn to lead yourself, you have build your character, understand your wesknesses and strive with your talent, then you are ready to embark yourself in leading others. The book by Liz Wiseman, Multipliers, it's a good reading to acknowledge leadership styles and apply your best self into to the job

This is something I am currently working on with a client. He is a Senior Manager and wants to be promoted to Director. What's something a Director do? - I asked. Lead and teach - he replied. We put together a plan where he can lead and teach even though he has not the director role yet. He started working with Human Resources and is currently leading trainings for other employees. I don't have any doubt that he will get that promotion soon.

Being a leader doesn't mean you have to be in a 'leadership' role... No matter what position you hold in an organization you can be a leader! Leading by example is my favorite way to show leadership capabilities - being flexible with change, volunteering for difficult assignments, and assisting co-workers with their questions are easy ways to show your capabilities and leadership qualities. At a very basic level, showing integrity and a commitment to quality and customer service are opportunities for every person to show leadership by example. When managers see your commitment to the organization, they will be better able to picture you as a potential manager.

One thing I have found helpful is listening to other coworkers and learn about them. Never make it about yourself. Focusing on their accolades and praising them when they do a wonderful job.

If you want to move up in the organization or not, show your worth. This is done by displaying your leadership ability in both leading yourself and others. Be available to help, take on tasks, set a good example, and take the initiative. Be a good teammate and show your willingness to work with others.

Making your goals known is a powerful catalyst for career advancement. This strategic approach to goal setting and communication fosters support from colleagues, mentors, and decision-makers and leverages their wisdom and experience to accelerate progress toward your objectives. It also creates opportunities for collaboration and mentorship. Whether it is expressing a desire for advancement within your current role or outlining long-term career aspirations, transparency breeds trust and fosters alignment between your personal objectives and the goals of the organization. Making goals known cultivates a sense of ownership and agency over your career trajectory.

(1) Understand your "why" - Take the time to reflect on why you want the promotion. What are your motivations, goals, and aspirations? (2) Assess your strengths and areas for development -self-awareness will allow you to highlight your strengths and address any gaps. (3) Actively network and build relationships - Often it boils down to not only what you know but who you know. Someone who will advocate for you, like a sponsor. (4) Build your brand and visibility - Volunteer for high-visibility projects and seek out opportunities to take on additional responsibilities, lead initiatives, and solve complex challenges. Showcasing your ability to handle increased scope and impact will set you up for promotion.

Building skills, developing relationships, seeking feedback, demonstrating leadership and exceeding expectations are the vehicle for promotion. Communicating your goals to those who advance candidates is the destination. Leaders will often recognize good work attributes but don’t always ascribe them to desires. Those who express their goals and ask for tangible steps from their leaders are those who come to mind when it’s time to advance candidates. Managers, Directors and VPs aren’t mind readers. In my experience, promotions are like dates. I never got one I didn’t ask for!

Communicating personal goals is essential but aligning those goals with the strategies and values that are inherent to the company’s overarching goals, is a brilliant step further. Remember that if you are seeking a promotion internally, then long-term goal setting can actually be a smart way to communicate your commitment concurrently. Consider leadership’s perspective and needs when deciding how to deliver your own and everyone will be able to attain their broadest goals in the best harmony. Shoot for the win-win-win scenario.

If you struggle to talk about your accomplishments, I strongly suggest to take an #IAmRemarkable workshop! It's all about recognizing all the small and big contributions we are making daily. "If it's a fact, it's not bragging". Take notes of all the achievements and all the projects you have work, so when the conversations are going, yo don't leave anything unsaid.

All the to-dos on your action plan are only as good as their impact. And you want them to have an impact. So get regular feedback. In your work environment from colleagues, where possible from superiors or people from other departments, feedback from your network. Feedback from friends in your private life and also from sports. Decide whether all feedback is useful for you or not and don't get angry about negative feedback. It is always a gift that you can accept or reject.

You need to create a plan of action. As soon as you decide to go for a promotion you need to have a plan in place which looks what your gaps are, what skills you will work on and who you will be getting mentoring from to support you on this journey. You need to have regular reviews with your managers to discuss further your plans and check in how you are performing against that. Additionally, you also need to have conversations around what the requirements for the promotions are as well so you are showing up in that way.

One of the hardest things for anyone is to seek feedback. But, in order to learn and grow in any aspect you must know what you do well and what you need to work on. Whatever feedback you receive, do not take it personally! Traditionally one of our biggest roadblocks to positive growth and development is taking things too personal and creating larger challenges and barriers!

Make sure to get 360 degree feedback (from your colleagues, people who report to you, people you work closely with, etc.). Your manager feedback is critical for promotions under their specific management but managers are people too and they don’t always know how to give the feedback you need. Sometimes managers go with their gut and can’t communicate actionable feedback (they need help growing too! - we all do). By expanding who and where you get your feedback you can more quickly understand your growth opportunities and prioritize them based on a more wholistic picture of how people perceive you and your work.

Tell everyone! We often assume people know we want the next job, but they don’t, unless you tell them. So be sure to let not only your direct manager know, but literally everyone, you never know who will be involved in the process.

Every day is an interview... Keep in mind that each day serves as an opportunity to showcase your capabilities. Your primary responsibility is to consistently fulfill all assigned tasks reliably. It's crucial to demonstrate your commitment to both your employer's mission and the needs of your colleagues. Moreover, maintaining consistency is essential. By doing so, you'll cultivate a foundation of trust with those around you, positioning yourself as the ideal candidate for advancement opportunities.

Understand the value that you offer and put forward a compelling business case for consideration. Often line managers (and the like) overlook some of your achievements or the contribution you make to adding value to the organisation you’re in. Sometimes it may not be obvious, so it’s up to you to demonstrate how you have made a success of the team, project, or business. This doesn’t always have to relate to revenue, growth or sales. Think about how you have embodied the culture and values of the business and provide evidence of how you have demonstrated this. How have you improved a process or increased effective communication between teams or helped to foster a culture of collaboration? Evidence is key here so show it!

Risk is highly underrated. Don’t be afraid to take some risks to prove yourself to your employer. Take on extra responsibility, step outside of your comfort zone, put in extra time/effort. Then be your own best advocate. This will set you apart from those around you and prove your dedication to the company. This may require some temporary personal sacrifices, but if you play your cards right, the rewards will soon outweigh the risks taken.

Always be clear on the value you bring. Once you are aware of this then communicate it to your boss and within your team. Do not be shy to share your wins, this will allow others to see your value. Also communicate what it is you are looking to do. People are busy and are not mind readers, so you have to communicate your goals and ambitions to your manager. So they can keep you in mind for any promotions. Strive for excellence in your role and success will follow.