IIBM India: 5 Steps That Will Get You That Promotion!

You love your job, you love your organization. You love what you do. But not being able to grow even after doing the best you can is demotivating you. You have got the numbers, the praise but still why that is that you are not getting promoted, even when you and everybody else around know you deserve it.

The good news is that you can still manage the promotion if you have everything planned well in advance. Here are 5 steps that will get you closer to your next promotion.

1. Lay the Foundation

You start with letting your boss know that you want a promotion. It is not like you walk up to him and directly say “Boss I need a promotion.” No that is not the way. You will have to discuss your career with your boss and bring the topic up. Seems simple but a number of employees never mention promotion in their plan and hence you don’t ask it, you don’t get it. Until you have the best boss, then you might be promoted without asking for it.

2. Position Your Promotion Well

Once you are there with your manager discussing your career, you will have to be prepared to lead the conversation. Firstly because you are the one who has initiated this meeting and secondly you cannot directly tell him/her that you want a promotion. That can leave your manager feeling on the spot and you are most probably to get a negative response.

Plan your strategy. You could begin by appreciating your job and your boss. It might not be your cup of tea, but a little flattery doesn’t anyone. Explain to your boss how you plan to stay for long and that our career progression really matters to you. Further, ask their inputs on your future. Here is the hint that you could be dropping for boss: No prospects for the long term? Bye bye!

3. Listen

Now when you have asked for feedback, be alert and attentive to note down specifics that your managers tell. You have made it easy for your manager to give you feedback something that a lot of people are not comfortable with giving. Even if you are achieving your targets, and your manager says he/she would like more from you, you have to nail something else along with what you have been doing.

Take hints from what the manager has to tell you. There might be something small or big that your manager wants you to do. It could be interacting with the seniors so that your promotion can be approved easily. Make sure you have it all noted so that it is easier for you to follow up.

All said and done, ask for a follow-up meeting with your manager so that you can review your progress together. It is easier to have a follow-up meeting when you have already discussed the same in the meeting before.

4. Start Over-Delivering

Now that you have an idea of what it is going to take to get promoted, chalk out 2-3 actions that you could complete in the coming 2-3 months. Weather it is taking online courses to enhance your skills or weather building stronger relationships with managers, make sure whatever you do is visible and is in the notice of your managers. You could record your efforts for a week or two and then sharing it with your manager over an e-mail works well.

Next you need to show to your boss that you are ready to take the responsibility further and you are delivering as if you are already on the next level.

5. Finally, Follow-Up

Once you are successful in addressing some of the key points that you received as a feedback from your boss, schedule a follow-up meeting. Remember you had mentioned it in the first meeting. Keep your notes and once again lead the conversation. Start with reminding your manager with some key areas you want to focus on. Outline the actions you have taken and then ask for feedback on your growth on the focused areas. It can take more than one follow-up meeting but remember it is your promotion and you have to have patience.

Giving your manager the hint that you want a promotion also puts a slight pressure and would take the necessary steps to keep you in the organization.