Mistakes You Make When Trying to Get Promoted

If you are a high performer who isn't getting promoted, you need to read this.

A client came to me because she was really frustrated that she wasn't getting promoted. 

She was watching all of her colleagues pass her by, colleagues that had seemingly less experience or education. 

She wondered, was it her? 

Was it because she was a woman? 

Was it because she wasn't doing a good enough job? 

She had a critical role in the company and was a high performer. So what was the problem?

We discovered she was committing some of the most common mistakes I see people make when trying to get promoted.

Once we discovered this and got her back on track, she was promoted in a matter of weeks.

If you are wondering why you aren’t being promoted here are 4 common mistakes people make and what you can do about it:

You lose perspective and are focused on what you don’t have. 

Instead, focus on what you can do to show that you are the best candidate for promotion. When you focus on the negative, your energy shifts, you start building resentment, you start calling into work and not giving your all, then your company starts questioning if you're looking for another job and changes their perspective of you.

You're working for a promotion you're not ready for or don't actually want. (I know this stings but....)

When you chase title, status, money, "what you deserve", you aren't looking at what you want, what skills you have, the challenges of the job, how it will impact your work/life. Seek a mentor, get unbiased input and feedback, look at what you want. Your brain could be sabotaging you because it knows you're not ready or don't actually want it. (Scary but true).

You think the promotion is the only way to grow. (This isn't just a line from HR...)

There are so many ways to grow other than a promotion (and honestly some of them are even BETTER than a promotion). Open your mind up to other opportunities and listen to the podcast #34 of Navigating Your Career: Change What You Do Without Changing Your Title for a step-by-step process to more fulfilling work.

You are only focused on the work (No, it's not all that matters)

You're a high performer and likely offer a perspective and talent no one else does, but it's not enough. You need to be visible, have a strong network, allies and advocates that will speak up for you (outside of your reporting structure). This will not only increase your chances for promotion but help you with your career growth for years to come.

Do some honest self-reflection.

If you are committing one or more of these mistakes, make a plan for how you can get back on track.

It’s not too late and you can be like my client who turned this around and was promoted in no-time.

If you're convinced you're doing everything right and questioning your career or your company, take my free quiz: Are you in the right career? You'll learn in less than 2 minutes if you should stay or go. You'll also get my free guide of things you must know before making a career move. You can access the quiz at www.melissamlawrence.com.