KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News SourceGetting Promoted – Are You Ready?

By Louise Bauer Davoli

Moving up the company and/or career ladder is no longer a given. In the past, workers moved along a specific career path during their professions, but the impact of technology, outsourcing, and flatter organizational structures, has changed that pattern. Getting ahead meant climbing over the backs of your coworkers and kissing the hand of whoever was in charge. Today, workers have to make and manage their own career paths through one or multiple organizations. And remember that a promotion is not always an upward path it can look more like a meandering mountain pass full of switchbacks. Sometimes especially in today's business environment you may need to make a lateral move so that you can learn new skills and position yourself for a upward move later.

Some experts say getting a promotion is all about knowing your work, having the skills and knowledge to deliver the set of key performance indicators. However, to facilitate the process of getting that desired promotion requires that you also know thyself. Assuming you will deliver the work beyond expectations, knowing yourself is also a significant part of the equation. Be aware of your own strengths, wants, desires, ambitions, and priorities and then the promotion will come.

Getting a promotion is a logical step in your career path and actually the easiest goal you can set for yourself. Wanting a promotion is one thing. Really knowing what you desire and whether or not you are willing to sacrifice in order to gain the skills and clarity necessary for the position is quite another thing. Once you figure out what it is that truly inspires you and that in deed includes getting a promotion, how are you spending your time? Getting the promotion may involve devoting some of your leisure time to acquiring knowledge through classes or reading. Are you able to identify areas in your performance that need enhancement? Cultivate the skill of accepting feedback and feed forward in order to address your performance flaws. Core competencies are one thing in getting ahead along with integrating a healthy dose of self-awareness and understanding will help facilitate getting that promotion faster.

Progression for Promotion:

-Create work opportunities
-Create your own job
-Shift how you view your performance appraisals
-Who knows you
-Qualities for promotion

Create opportunities through volunteering for cross-functional trainings or cross-functional team projects. Helping out in other departments or asking for more responsibilities increases your value within the organization, it demonstrates your willingness to help and shines the spotlight on your worth and contributions in the company. Suggest your own job. Notice what your company's needs are and make the case for a job to be created that utilizes your talents and skills. Look at your performance review as an opportunity to frankly discuss with the boss potential roadblocks to your progress. Demonstrate your willingness to learn from experience and change.