If I were to ask how to get a promotion at work fast, what would you say is the best strategy?
Most people would say that doing a fantastic job in your current position is the #1 way to ensure you’ll be promoted. Makes sense. Your supervisor needs to see that you’re a hard worker, intelligent, reliable, and resourceful. Otherwise, they’d have no reason to believe you could take on a position with more responsibility.
You want to show them that your work is highly valuable, and that you are ready to take on bigger challenges and responsibilities. But, how do you convince your boss you deserve a promotion? Here are a few tips to get promoted from our new video series, Setting Yourself Up for A Promotion.
Make yourself expendable.
Think like your supervisor – if they see you as an irreplaceable employee because you’re the only one who can do your job, then they’ll have to go through the trouble of finding someone else who can learn to do your job just as well. That’s a big hassle. Is promoting you worth all of that?
Of course it is! At least you think it is… but you have to show them that you in your next position is even better for them and the company than you in your current position.
Get ready for the hand-off.
You’re the best at what you do – no one else has knowledge of your position like you do. Everything gets done exactly how it needs to and you never let anything fall through the cracks. Delegating is for schmucks, right?
Wrong. The surest way to stay stuck in one position is to hoard your responsibilities. If you’re ready to move up, you’ll need to train others on your team to know what you do. Help them to understand the ins and outs of your job. You may find that someone else on your team is eager to learn the skills associated with your job, and although pride may want to see that as a threat, take it as an opportunity.
Think ahead.
You know that trick that’s used in sports all the time – visualization? It’s envisioning catching the ball, making the shot, winning the championship. For you, it’s seeing yourself in your next position before you get there. Thinking through what you’ll need to accomplish in the position you want will help you prepare and prove you’re the obvious candidate for that spot.
Start building the skills you’ll need now. Not sure what those skills are? Ask around – others in that position or who have been there before can be a great resource. Ask what worked for them, or if there are any tips and tricks that helped them to be successful. If your company has a mentoring program, you’ll definitely want to find out how to participate.
Is there required training for your next position that you’re able to access beforehand? Get a jump start and complete it now – that’s the kind of initiative that scores big points!
Continually developing yourself and striving to be smarter every day will show that you’re ready to take on the challenges that come with a higher position. That could mean managing others, heading up a specific initiative, running a whole department, solving world hunger… the sky’s the limit!
To get a promotion at work, focus on becoming competent in your next position before you get there. Show them that you’re not only great in your current job, but you’re the best person for your next job. After all, getting promoted shouldn’t only benefit you, it should benefit the entire company.
The Career Advancement video series, available in The BizLibrary Collection, is a 7-part guide for employees to learn how to develop themselves and gain the confidence and knowledge needed to move up in the company. In lesson 6, “Setting Yourself up for a Promotion,” they’ll not only learn how to get a promotion, but how to hit the ground running in the new position.
Watch a preview of “Setting Yourself Up for a Promotion” here: