Getting Promoted Requires More Than Doing Your Job Well

If you are serious about advancing in your career, you need to start considering taking a tactical strategy in making yourself known to one or more of the “suits” who represent upper management. But exactly how might you go about that without seeming like it’s all about you? For sure, it's more than having them recognize your name and title. Ideally someone in the upper ranks needs to know about one or two of your successes. It helps to have an advocate willing to mention your successes or creative ideas to someone near the top. Your advocate can investigate how to get you on the agenda to present your ideas at a senior leadership meeting or arrange for you to meet one-on-one with select senior people.

 During any discussion that may follow, you may even have an opportunity to mention your career ambitions. But, before you do, think hard about how your ambition links with any idea you might share. Doing “good work” in the job you have now is, of course, important. Keep in mind, however, that it’s also what’s expected! Being in a position where you can exercise an added value is what you want to talk about in humble terms when that opportunity comes your way. What you did in your current position isn’t the pathway to your next position. Remember that “your work doesn’t speak for itself” as it did years ago. Today, it’s important to promote yourself to others who are in a position of influence without making it about yourself. It’s about positioning yourself to create value. Try it and you will like the results.