Don't Be Passed Over for Promotion
Five Reasons Why a Career Gets Stalled or Derailed
Don't get turned down next time a promotional opportunity becomes available. Prepare now for the future and a chance to advance your career.
Watching someone else climb the career ladder can be devastating, but doesn’t have to be the end of the world if an employee understands why he was not promoted and what he can do differently to be prepared next time.
Here are five reasons why employees are passed over for promotion and steps they can take to alter their chances in the future.
Just Doing the Job
Doing a minimal amount of work in an eight-hour day is not enough to get a promotion. Even seemingly minor things such as occasionally arriving late, being the first one out the door at night, and missing one or two deadlines can all lead to an employee’s non-promotability. Anyone who believes that he can just show up and do only what he's paid to do and still get a promotion needs to rethink what he wants from his career.
Promotable employees...
- Volunteer for projects and assignments then execute them flawlessly and on time
- Step up to help others and the team by pitching in wherever they are needed
- Stay abreast of current events by reading trade publications and company news and asking pertinent questions of their superiors
- Know their company’s mission statement and organizational values
- Keep their boss in the know through regular face-to-face and written updates
Being Unimpressive
Make a good impression. Be visible by doing the things that get noticed and being noticed for doing the right things. Star employees develop a personal brand that communicates who they are and what they have to offer.
Promotable employees...
- Actively participate on cross-functional teams and then volunteer to present the findings to the management team
- Engage other professionals -- inside and outside their organization -- by asking questions about their work, their business, and industry
- Write a knowledgeable and insightful article for the company newsletter
- Share ideas with coworkers, even those they’ve only read about
- Get recognized for hard work by winning an award, receiving written compliments from customers, and sharing good ideas
Not a People Person
Alienating coworkers, continually complaining, and making the work environment generally unpleasant will not help an employee’s chances for career success. Leaders are people persons who know how to inspire and coach a team as well as others around them.
Promotable employees...
- Treat others the way they want to be treated – fully engaged and respectful
- Congratulate others on their successes
- Demonstrate leadership by providing guidance to team members, especially those that are new to the company
- Remember coworkers on their birthdays or other special occasions
- Attend company events – whether a holiday party or business meeting – and network
Culturally Uninspired
If employees learn nothing else, they need to keep in mind that every company has a culture, an environment, a set of values, and a human dynamic that communicates what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior within that organization. Employees who want to get ahead should look to their superiors to understand what works and doesn’t work in their organization. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Promotable employees...
- Let their image do the talking by wearing appropriate attire every day of the week – even casual Fridays
- Refine spoken communication skills by eliminating sloppy language and slang
- Improve written communication skills by taking a business writing class
- Develop a personal brand and 30-second elevator speech
- Make sure the boss looks good because it reflects not only on him, but on the rest of the team
Luck of the Draw
Being in the right place at the right time is 90 percent of promotability. The right position has to be available, the employee has to be ready to take on the challenge and there needs to be someone to back fill the vacated position.
Promotable employees...
- Have a replacement trained and at the ready for when the call comes down from the top
- Are patient and don’t expect something too soon
- Are flexible and willing to negotiate or compromise on salary, title and other benefits
Be prepared the next time the right promotional opportunity becomes available by understanding what it takes to be promotable.
