It’s the end of the year already, and it
isn’t too late to show your boss that you’re worthy of a promotion. Maybe
you’ve been holding down the same position for a few years and are ready to
move up. Maybe your company is going through some internal shuffling and you’re
expecting your dream job to open up. Or, maybe you’ve been disappointed a few
too many times by other people getting promoted ahead of you.
Whatever
the reason, you want to make certain now that you’re ready to move up. In other
words, you need to make certain that your boss sees it that way.
Anthony
Greenwald at the University of Washington has studied bias more than just about
anyone, and his research findings have major implications for your ability to
get promoted. His recent studies showed that unconscious workplace biases tend
to stay constant, and bosses follow these biases, whether they are aware of
them or not.
“People
are claiming that they can train away biases,” Greenwald says, “[They’re]
making those claims without evidence.”
When
it comes to getting promoted, you want to present yourself in a way that feeds
into the biases that bosses’ have about what makes someone promotable. You’re
already doing the hard work, so why not frame your effort in such a way that it
increases your chances of obtaining the position you want?
While
this probably sounds a bit manipulative, there are several straightforward
things that you can do to showcase your work and make certain that you’re
promotable. The following five actions will appeal to your boss’s inherent
biases about promotability, without you being disingenuous.
1.
You stretch your boundaries
Anybody
(well, almost anybody) can do what they’re told. To get promoted, you have to
go above and beyond. Taking on additional responsibilities without being asked
is not only a great way to demonstrate your work ethic, energy, and skills, but
it also lets your boss know that you’re ready (and able) to expand your scope.
When you take on more than the norm, your boss can’t help but think that you’re
capable of a bigger role. This includes showing that you’re willing to take
risks by making innovative suggestions.
2.
You aren’t too irreplaceable
Most
people fail at this. Of course, performing at your highest level regardless of
the position you’re in is always the best idea. The key here is not to be seen
as the only person capable of performing the necessary duties in the position
that you want to move on from. If you do, your boss will conclude that
promoting you isn’t worth the trouble (and risk) of finding someone to replace
you. The best way to find a balance between doing your best and showing that
you’re ready for more is by developing other people. As tempting as it is to
hoard knowledge, don’t. Instead, make certain that there are others who know
how to do important aspects of your job. Plus, teaching is a critical
leadership skill. So, in addition to alleviating concerns about finding your
replacement, you’ll demonstrate that you can handle the responsibility that
comes with a more advanced position.
3.
You demonstrate emotional intelligence (EQ)
You
might be able to get away with being a temperamental genius in entry-level
positions, but you’ll never move past that without emotional intelligence. If
you’re the type who’s prone to temper tantrums when things don’t go your way;
losing your cool when people cross you; storming out of rooms, yelling; or
going silent during conflict, you’re signaling to your boss that you don’t want
a promotion. No boss wants to be known as the guy or gal who promoted a
short-fused person. Once you’re promoted, your behavior is a reflection of the
judgment of the person who promoted you. Show your boss that you have enough
self-awareness to acknowledge your weaknesses and to work to improve them. This
will prove you’re capable. Emotional self-control is the result of hard work,
not an inherent skill.
4.
You speak the company’s language
Bosses
appreciate vision more than anything. They love it when you see what could be
useful to the company over the long term and tell them about it in language
they understand. As you move up in any company, your choice of language becomes
increasingly important. It’s no longer enough to simply be an expert at what
you do; you have to demonstrate that you understand how the work you do serves
the business. That means learning the vocabulary of the executive team and your
boss. Whether that’s KPIs, EBITA, profit margin, market share, failure rate, or
what have you, know what the terms mean and why they’re important so that you
can use them correctly when speaking with upper management. Speaking the right
language will not only show that you’re interested in more than your current
role, but it will also demonstrate your intelligence and fit within the
company.
5.
You aren’t afraid to ask for it
Not
everybody wants to be promoted; some people are perfectly happy doing the same
job for years on end. If you don’t tell your boss otherwise, he or she may
assume that you’re one of them. When the time comes to show up in your boss’s
office and say, “I’m interested in a promotion,” it’s important that you have
something specific in mind—if not a specific job title, then at least a clear
idea of what the responsibilities might include and how this ties in to your
career goals. And, if the job requires skills you don’t have yet, outline your
plan for acquiring them.
Bringing
It All Together
You
may not get the promotion you’re aiming for. If that happens, ask for feedback,
but stay away from sour-grapes questions like “Why did you pick him and not
me?” In fact, don’t speak about the person who got the promotion at all.
Instead, ask which of the critical skills you lack and what you need to do to
be ready for the next opportunity. Don’t argue; just listen, and ask thoughtful
follow-up questions. Just make certain you follow through on the suggestions
you’re given. If your boss suggests some things you can do to become more
promotable and you don’t follow through, don’t expect to be considered the next
time around.
Promotions
don’t just happen, and they’re not a guaranteed result of high performance.
That’s because you don’t get promoted as a reward for what you’ve already done.
You get promoted because your boss thinks you have the potential to add more
value in a larger role.
What
have you done to demonstrate your readiness for a promotion? Please share your
thoughts in the comments section below as I learn just as much from you as you
do from me.
