“Andy, I’m so bummed, ” said Kevin. “That new dude in the department got the promotion I was hoping for. What do I do?”
“Did you ask the boss why the new guy got the job instead of you?”
“Yeah. He said the new guy had better skills.”
Feeling let down and perhaps even a little angry are normal reactions when you’re passed over for a promotion. It’s OK to be disappointed, but monitor your emotions because coming across negatively won’t help your chances for future opportunities.
7 strategies for getting a promotion
If you’re gunning for a future promotion or were passed over for one like Andy, consider these strategies to get yourself better positioned for the next time.
1. Have all the hard and soft skills.
Ask your boss what knowledge, skills and/or abilities you lack, either for your current position or the one you were seeking. Work with your boss to create a development plan to fill in the missing skills.
Some items to be included in your skill improvement plan might be: volunteer for projects, attend training programs, work with a coach, read books, take classes or ask for a mentor.
2. Be a team player.
While you may have all the right skills, how you act might be holding you back. Both what you do (task completion) AND how you do it (your interactions with others) are equally important.
Do you have a reputation for being difficult? Do people want you involved in their projects? Are you self-centered? Do you throw colleagues under the bus? Technical brilliance alone won’t get you promoted. You need sincerity, authenticity, top-notch interpersonal communication skills and the ability to build relationships.
3. Build a solid and strategic network.
It’s important to be connected with individuals at all levels within the organization: people who know you, know what you do and who actively support you. It’s pretty powerful when someone from another department is talking with your boss and they praise your work.
Leadership is something that happens up, down and across the organization — make sure you’re playing equally well in all directions.
4. Demonstrate a strong work ethic.
Consider both the quality and quantity of your work. Do you do just enough to get by, or do you regularly go above and beyond? In today’s new normal, employers value people who do more with less.
5. Look the part.
We all know the days of the three-piece suit are long gone, yet looking clean, neat and appropriate never goes out of style. Observe what senior leaders at your company wear. A good rule of thumb is to dress for the job that you want.
6. Be visible.
All too often, we believe that hard work will take us to the top. Yet hard work alone isn’t the answer — your boss and others in your company must know about your contributions.
Many of us are taught not to brag and feel uncomfortable talking about our accomplishments. The workplace reality is that you must tactfully tell people, otherwise they’re not aware of your great ideas or output.
7. Know the company culture.
Every company has its own ways of decision-making, rewarding good performance, communicating up and down the ladder, handling conflict, etc. Get plugged in to how work gets done at your company so you’re working with the flow, not against it.
What promotion-getting strategies have worked for you?
Image source: Gratisography
