“This year, I’m getting promoted!” – This idea must have crossed your mind while envisioning your new year, hasn’t it? It’s perfectly normal. We are all working extremely hard to advance in our careers and we don’t want to stagnate. The question is: Do you really have what it takes for a promotion?
“Of course, I do. I perform my job with my eyes shut!”
“There’s nothing more I could learn. I’ve mastered my current role”
This is a great start. Before even aspiring for a promotion, we need to show a steady performance in our current role. However, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt from managers and mentors is that most often, this is not enough for any of us to be asked to take on more responsibilities.
So, to find out whether we are ready for the next role, let’s start by asking ourselves two questions:
1. Do I have the skills required for the next role?
Every job requires a different set of skills. For you to be promoted, you need to show signs of that role’s specific set of abilities today. You may be an outperforming sales professional; you interact well with customers, understand your market’s dynamics and drive results. However, that sales manager role you’ve got your eye on requires higher levels of analytical skills, coaching and decision making. It’s important for you to pull up the skills required for that job, evaluate yourself and ask for feedback. If you feel that development is needed, then you should start now, in preparation for the next opportunity.
2. Am I showcasing my potential?
You may be the perfect candidate for the next role but, no one is aware! It is your responsibility to show your management team or other decision makers in the organization that you are “the one”. Show… don’t tell! Now, you’re probably thinking “that’s my manager’s job”. Indeed, I agree that managers play a critical role in the process. So, if you have a supportive manager, make sure to provide her enough examples to back her case up. If you are uncertain whether she is getting the message through, then the ball is in your court.
The secret recipe
Going back to my first question: do you have what it takes for a promotion? For you to ensure that, here’s what could work:
KNOW which competencies are needed for that future role. You can find them in the job description.
ENGAGE in an informal 360 feedback to find out where you stand from those competencies. Let me pause here and encourage you to accept any feedback -even if you don’t agree with it- because if this is what they think then, this is what they believe is true! Their perception is your reality through their lens. In other terms, if this skill is not observed, then it’s either not there or you are not showcasing it.
OBSERVE people who are in this role, understand how they perform and what makes them successful.
VOLUNTEER for a stretch assignment in that role. It’s the perfect learning opportunity and it allows management to start visualizing you in this role- provided you succeed! Check out my post on gigs in the workplace.
CREATE opportunities to showcase certain skills through diversified projects if a stretch assignment in that role isn’t possible.
BENEFIT from performance reviews to restate your achievements and the capabilities you’ve proven through solid examples.
BUILD a network of individuals who know you on the job and can speak about your achievements and capabilities.
A final thought: You and I are probably not the only candidates for that job. So, we both need to find out what our X factor is and what makes us stand out!
Feature Image by Brooke Lark on Unsplash