How to Get a Promotion

In the past, the most important criterion for achieving a promotion was showing up every day-seniority was the most direct road to promotability.

As the 1970s turned into the 1980s, pay for performance was the name of the game, and the tenure-based promotion system was slowly replaced by a merit-based promotion system-which was also flawed. In the merit-only system, little regard was paid to the skills and knowledge needed for the new position-only how well the candidate did in his or her current spot was considered. This system allowed the promotion of many underprepared and underqualified people into management positions as a reward for doing well.

Luck

A recent survey by J. Howard & Associates found that 39 percent of the employees responding believe that the current road to promotability is still merit only: Do well, and you will move ahead. Over half of the employees responding believe that promotability is based on other factors in addition to merit, including personal connections, seniority (only younger workers felt this way), and luck (when preparation and opportunity meet).

Getting a promotion takes much more than just being there, doing well in your current job, having great personal connections, or even being lucky. It takes all of that, and more. It takes:

• A complete understanding of your strengths, skills, and values (self-awareness)

• An appreciation of how you are perceived by others (awareness)

• A high level of positive and accurate visibility

• A demonstration of your knowledge of corporate priorities

• A reputation for being trustworthy

• A proven ability to lead others, and to follow well, too

• A willingness to take smart risks and openly learn from your mistakes

• An ability to make it easy for the company to promote you by being great at what you do: by thinking, not just doing

The Road to Promotability

There are two critical components of promotability:

1. You have to be the best you can be.

2. Your best must be exactly what is needed, and wanted, in your current organization. If it is not, then it may be time to move on

If you are to get a promotion, it is important for you to have an accurate view of how others see you, over and above your work product (which must be brilliant)

Ask for the Promotion

When you are ready with everything you need for a promotion, it is time to ask for the promotion. Do not wait for the opening to happen, and do not hint at it; ask early, and be clear about your direction. As backup, have the following materials available when you make your request:

• A summary of your current accomplishments

• A summary of the requirements (results, technical skills, and behavioral skills) for the new position

• A summary of your skill set and how you meet those requirements

• An awareness of the salary package you want to negotiate

Watch your timing. The day your boss received a poor performance review or the company announced poor results is just not a good day to ask for a promotion. Ask for your promotion on a day when things are going well, and at a time of day when your boss is energetic (do not ask at 3 p.m. on a Friday, ask mid-morning on a Tuesday or Wednesday).