How to get a promotion at work: Dos and Don’ts – Times of India

A promotion is an exciting opportunity for an employee, and many of us would welcome it. It usually entails more power, money, and control over your daily tasks. However, getting promoted requires more than just doing a good job. Even if you are a top performer who takes initiative and exceeds your targets, you may still need to persuade your boss that you deserve a promotion. Yes, your company must decide to promote you. However, proactively seeking a promotion greatly improves your prospects. This begins with a dialogue and a persuasive argument for what you want and why you deserve it.

Some of the key points to keep in mind to put yourself in the driving seat for promotion:

Dos
1) You must excel in what you are doing

Promotions do not come as a result of a one-time effort; it can take months to construct a case for why you deserve one. There are a few methods to do this, one of which is to focus on what will be required of you to advance to the next level of your career during your yearly performance review. Put your attention here first. However, being good at your job isn’t enough; it only indicates that you’re competent in your current position. To be promoted, you must demonstrate that you are capable of handling a higher-level position. After that, wait until you’ve accomplished a key goal and gotten public recognition for your efforts before approaching your boss. Remember, your goal is to promote yourself and convince your boss that you have what it takes to advance.


2) Keep track of your successes

If you’ve followed step one, you shouldn’t be surprised when you ask your supervisor for a promotion. However, you’ll most likely feel nervous while approaching your supervisor to make your big request, making it tough to recall all of your outstanding achievements. That’s why keeping track of your significant accomplishments is crucial. You’ll need to back up your claim with substantial proofwhich includes hard facts or metrics that back up your feats.


3) Prepare a succession plan

Consider telling your supervisor how you plan to mentor your colleagues to take on some of the duties you’ll need to hand off when you move ahead. Being promoted involves taking on a larger responsibility within the organisation, which requires you to think carefully about how your efforts may best benefit the firm. This requires a thorough understanding of the company and how your function fits into the department. This will allow you to make more strategic recommendations to your boss.


4) Building strong connections with your colleagues and boss


Promotions in most organisations involve the approval of the colleagues along with that of supervisors’. As a result, you must be conscious of how you present yourself. Having bad relationships at the workplace can hurt your prospects of moving up in an organisation. So, to have healthy ties with your peers active listening is one of the most effective methods to grow yourself and become more strategic. Also, learn to say yes to new challenges if it means a broader scope. If you can begin taking on new tasks and projects outside of your main role, you will demonstrate to your supervisor that you are capable of handling a larger job while also developing relationships with more people across the firm.


5) Pay attention to newly promoted employees


Examine some of the employees in your firm who have received promotions in previous years for ideas on how you might get promoted. One of the secrets to claiming your promotion is to be mindful of your surroundings. Look for common personality traits, accomplishments, and habits among persons who have been promoted effectively. These observations could help you figure out what you need to do to advance in your career. For example- some employers expect their staff to work well with others. Showing willingness to assist with team initiatives will help you create rapport with your supervisor or boss in this case.

Don’ts

1) Stay away from self-serving narratives

Do not use your personal life to justify your need for a promotion. Your firm may be concerned about your well-being, but it is unlikely to affect their financial line. Instead, concentrate on the excellent work you’ve accomplished. Make sure to relate your expertise to the company’s future strategic objectives when talking about what you offer to the table.

2) Do not advertise yourself; instead, present your case with facts

Evidence-based advocacy and general self-promotion are separated by a fine line. Stick to the facts you’ve gathered and present vivid examples of occurrences that demonstrate your exceptional achievement. Avoid bragging about your promotion to the entire office, since this may cause you to become isolated from both employees and management. You’ll appear untrustworthy and incapable of handling sensitive information.

3) Avoid giving a deadline

Don’t let your ambition or insecurity lead you to make decisions you’ll come to regret later. If you utilise a new job offer to get a better role or higher compensation at your existing employer, be prepared to walk away if it backfires. Your manager might interpret this as an attempt to manoeuvre your way into a promotion if you don’t provide enough background.

4) Avoid applying for positions that aren’t a good fit


If your current position is overwhelming, you may believe that a new challenge will help you advance your career. While it’s reasonable to want a change, you should only apply for jobs that you’re truly interested in. When a desirable job description comes up, the leadership team may regard you as a less serious candidate as applying for multiple roles may make you appear distracted.

Conclusion


Asking for a promotion may be a time-consuming and difficult process. However, the longer you put off preparing for this difficult conversation, the longer it will take. Remember that preparation leads to confidence, so get started now.