7 strategies for promotion

"Angie, I’m so bummed,” said Becky. “The new lady in the department got the promotion I was hoping for. What do I do?”

“Did you ask the boss why she got the job instead of you?”

“I did, and he said her skills were better.”

If you’re hoping for a future promotion or were passed over for one like Becky, consider these tactics to get yourself better positioned.

1. Make sure your skills are solid.

Ask your boss what knowledge, skills and/or abilities you lack, either for your current position or the one you are seeking. Work with your boss to create a development plan to fill in the missing skills. Your skill improvement plan might include volunteering for projects, attending training programs, working with a coach, reading books, taking classes or asking for a mentor.

2. Be a team player.

While you may have all the right skills, how you act could be holding you back. Both what you do (task completion) and how you do it (your interactions with others) are equally important.

Do you have a reputation for being difficult? Do people want you involved in their projects? Are you self-centered? Do you throw colleagues under the bus? Technical brilliance alone won’t get you promoted. You need sincerity, authenticity, top-notch interpersonal communication skills and the ability to build relationships.

3. Build a solid and strategic network.

It’s important to be connected with individuals at all levels within the organization: people who know you, know what you do and who actively support you. It’s pretty powerful when someone from another department is talking with your boss and they praise your work.

Leadership is something that happens up, down and across the organization. Make sure you’re playing equally well in all directions.

4. Demonstrate a strong work ethic.

Consider both the quality and quantity of your work.

Do you do just enough to get by, or do you regularly go above and beyond?

In today’s new normal, employers value people who do more with less.

5. Look the part.

We all know the days of the three-piece suit are long gone, yet looking clean, neat and appropriate never goes out of style. Observe what senior leaders at your company wear. A good rule of thumb is to dress for the job that you want.

6. Be visible.

All too often, we think that hard work will take us to the top.

Yet hard work alone isn’t the answer — your boss and others in your company must know about your contributions.

Many women are taught not to brag and feel uncomfortable talking about their accomplishments. The workplace reality is that you must tactfully tell people, otherwise they’re not aware of your great ideas or output.

7. Know the company culture.

Every company has its own ways of decisionmaking, rewarding good performance, communicating up and down the ladder, handling conflict, etc.

Get plugged in to how work gets done at your company so you’re working with the flow, not against it.

Jane Perdue is the principal/CEO for the Braithwaite Innovation Group. You can reach her through her company’s website, braithwaiteinnovationgroup.com.

The Job Coaches are experienced volunteers from the Center for Women’s Job Counseling Program. Ask them question by calling 763-7333 or e-mailing info@c4women.org. If you would like further assistance, make a counseling appointment; a donation of $35 is requested.