Schedule Your Career Conversations: Following Up for Your Promotion

Have you ever been in that spot where your boss nods along to your raise or promotion talk, and yet, nothing really comes out of it?

Waiting Is Not Enough & Pushing Is Not Selfish

Madison, a Director of Product in Healthcare, found herself in just such a limbo. After finally mustering the courage to discuss her promotion, she thought the hard part was over when her boss agreed to move things forward with HR. Eager to avoid seeming pushy and selfish, she patiently waited, hoping her boss would initiate the next steps.

But as days turned into a month, with no word back, she noticed her peers advancing, landing promotions, and snagging better salaries. During a one-on-one, embarrassment wrestled with determination. "Bringing up my promotion felt like I might come across as opportunistic," she admitted. Yet, silence wasn't moving her any closer to her goal.

When Madison finally asked for an update, her boss's reply was a letdown: "Sorry, I didn't have time to talk with HR." This was a wake-up call. Her promotion, though important and top of mind to her, was just another item on her busy boss's lengthy to-do list. "My boss is awesome, but he's busy," she realized.

Her promotion, though important and top of mind to her, was just another item on her busy boss's lengthy to-do list.

Scheduling Recurring Promotion Meetings

Determined not to let her career get stuck, Madison took a proactive step. "I suggested setting up biweekly meetings to keep the promotion on the radar," she said. Her boss agreed, recognizing he’d forget otherwise and that it helped stay focused on the goal. Madison began actively managing her career trajectory, scheduling meetings and ensuring key stakeholders were involved to push her promotion forward.

"I suggested setting up biweekly meetings to keep the promotion on the radar."

The initial follow-ups were tough, but they became easier over time. "I'd directly ask for updates, and my boss would share the latest, whether it was budget constraints, timing issues with promotion cycles, or the need for performance review discussions," she recounted. These meetings were short: 5 min to 10 min updates. Persistence paid off, and after six months of biweekly check-ins, Madison secured her promotion.

Madison learned that hard work alone or speaking about it once doesn't guarantee recognition or advancement. "Command your career," she advises. Don't shy away from scheduling meetings to discuss your promotion, seek out stretch assignments, or explore learning and mentorship opportunities. The path to career growth isn't always comfortable, but it's necessary.

Initiating Multiple Conversations

Responses from others might vary, some are encouraging, some are not. Yet, it’s important to persist. One conversation is rarely enough. You might need to initiate the discussion 5, 10, even 20 times. If progress seems slow, the onus is on you to keep the momentum going. Unapologetically set up those recurring discussions. Make your career growth a standing agenda item.

One conversation is rarely enough. Make your career growth a standing agenda item.

And when that nagging guilt creeps in for having to remind your boss again and again, remember you're steering your career. Every scheduled conversation is a step closer to your goals. That's not the last conversation, it's the very beginning.

Reflect

• Think about a situation where you noticed peers advancing in their careers while you seemed to remain stagnant. How could you actively manage your career trajectory?
• Consider a moment when you took the initiative to discuss a promotion or raise but didn't see immediate results. How did you respond to this lack of immediate feedback or action? What follow up strategies could you use in the future to ensure your efforts lead to more tangible outcomes?
• Have you ever set up regular check-ins or meetings specifically focused on your career development? If not, what has stopped you from doing so?
• Remember a time when persistence in asking led to what you wanted. How can you apply the lessons learned from that experience to navigating your professional growth and speaking up for your career aspirations?

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