Your Career Journey: Getting Promoted

Introduction

Everyone wants growth in their lives. One of the most important areas where we want growth, is in our career. So, in this post, we’ll be looking at a few things to remember when you’re thinking about getting promoted.

promotion
/prəˈməʊʃn/
noun
the action of promoting someone or something to a higher position or rank or the fact of being so promoted.
Synonyms: preferment, upgrading, move up, elevation, advancement, advance, step up, step up the ladder, aggrandizement

We’ll be looking at two areas in this post.

Firstly, what the difference is between a manager and a leader. And secondly, things you should do to prove you’re ready for promotion.

Differences between a manager and a leader

Getting promoted does not automatically make you a good leader. It also doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll be great at your next position. There is a time and place for both a leader and a manager. But, if you can combine the best of both, you will be much more likely to be successful in your next role.

Let’s compare the two:

Managers	Leaders
Focus on setting, measuring and achieving goals	Inspire others to be a part of a grander plan
Stick with what works and refines processes to make them better	Challenge the status quo
Mimic leadership styles shown by others	Build their own brand of leadership
Work to reduce risk	Willing to take risks and fail
Have shorter-term goals and need regular motivation	Working for the long-term vision
Perfect existing skills and adopt proven behaviours	Constantly learning how to improve themselves
Establish solid processes, structures and work flows	Build relationships and identify the key people they need to influence
Assign tasks and provide guidance to employees on their completion	Believe that their employees have the answers, or know how to find them
Have employees who follow directions	Have a loyal fan base – they go beyond following and instead become promoters
Execute the vision	Have a vision

Additional resources: Read these articles by Forbes and go2HR for more information.

These characteristics play a different role depending on the stage of your career. That’s because different seasons and roles may call for different behaviour. So, think about your new position… Which of these characteristics would be most relevant?

Are you ready for your promotion?

There are a few things you can do to prove you are ready for a promotion. Let’s look at them below.

Make life easier for your boss

The more of your boss’ tasks you can take over, the more they will learn to trust you. This will free them up to do higher level tasks. As a result, you will be noticed.

And, if you are in an organisation that has a structured career path for you, consider yourself lucky! Find out what competencies they expect from the next level, and then, start developing those even before your promotion.

Be a problem solver, not a problem reporter

If you come across a problem, don’t settle for reporting the problem to your boss. Instead, be the person that reports the problem along with a few solutions.

Now, your solutions might not be right the first time. But, you have demonstrated initiative and ownership to your boss. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as long as you communicate them.

Be committed to your work

Being committed doesn’t mean working crazy hours all the time. Instead, it means you are displaying loyalty to the cause.

You’ve heard it said that you should work smarter not harder, right? Working smart means working on the right things at the right time. It also means consistently communicating your progress.

Therefore, work smart and develop the right relationships at work, and it will make a big difference.

Show a strong work ethic

Before expecting a promotion, prove you’re in full command of your current role. Can you show, without a doubt, that you’ve mastered what is currently expected of you? Would someone rate you as “meeting expectations” or “exceeding expectations”?

You can also prove your work ethic by being helping the rest of your team raise their performance. Empower your colleagues to perform at their best rather than stepping on them in your rise to the top.

Conclusion

So in summary, if you’re looking for growth in your career, you must show you’re ready for it. Maybe that means becoming a better leader or manager. Or, it could be as simple as making life easier for your boss.

But in conclusion, this video by Forbes explains why Milennials aren’t being promoted. Make sure this isn’t you ?

All the best with your next step in your career journey!