ALT-5 Strategies for getting yourself Promoted
There is a danger that strategies can be seen as 'quick wins' or rules that can be followed step-by-step to a successful conclusion. However, nowhere is this further from the truth than in our chosen careers and work.
Within the work place it is important to use strategies within a wider context of taking control of your career, and ensuring you have the passion and commitment to make yourself indespensible for the company or business you work for.
You are in charge of your career, so these strategies are yours to use and adapt to your requirements.
Keep a record of your achievements and responsibilities. It is often the case that when it comes to us justifying our position or a move upward we do not remember all the extra activities and responsibilities we have taken on. By recording and quantifying all the positive contributions you have made to the company or institution you are highlighting your successes and making yourself indispensable.
Your boss is your best friend. As far as promotions are concerned this should be the case. If your boss is on your side then the chances of a promotion are much better. Appraisals can be the ideal opportunities for highlighting your successes (see above) and discussing progression and possible barriers to your progression.
Be an outstanding team player. In the past employees might have gotten away with never being part or involved in a team their entire working lives. But in today's world that would be a very rare case indeed. Make sure you share the successes of your team and make notes of your contributions.
Network. Make sure that you are well known and well liked within an organization. If you are able to network with colleagues in other departments you also open up opportunities to progress into new areas. It can be argued that networking is one of the most important aspects of a career, whether it be progressing in your existing one, or moving somewhere new.
Remain positive. Firstly your boss will be more likely to think of you as promotion material if you are a positive force within your workplace. There is often nothing worse than having a negative and backward looking member of staff to deal with. Secondly, positivity will help you in your promotion quest and allow you to maintain belief rather than simply give up.
Knowledge is power. By extending your skills base and the knowledge you bring to a job the more important and exciting an employee you become. New knowledge will help you keep ahead of the crowd and put you in an excellent position for promotions. Often, by staying up to date with events outside your field you can bring new developments and areas into your work. New knowledge and skills add freshness to your abilities and make you an exciting proposition.
The key to promotion lies in utilizing a number of the above strategies to make you, as an employee, a key player within your workplace, and the obvious choice for promotion. Being promoted isn't about waiting for your boss to single you out and progress your career. Rather, it is about you taking control and starting to build your own career progression.
