If you’re interested in being promoted, especially to the most senior levels, there are a great many things you need to do.
Since I don’t know the specifics of your situation, I cannot predict exactly what you need to do.
What I can tell you though, is you probably need to be able to answer most of the following 21 questions with confidence:
- Do you have a successor (or two) ready to step in your shoes? They may be reluctant to promote you and create another problem.
- Are your bosses are so impressed with your potential successors’ capability, any normal person would start to feel insecure?
- Is you team succeeding and delivering well for the organisation, and your bosses?
- Have you made your mark, and impressed people with your results and your potential? Not only your bosses, but also your peers (not all of them, but many of them).
- Are you thinking at the next level up (or several levels)? This also means being able to converse about the strategic challenges of the arena, and have a vision of the future.
- Are you confident talking about this with the more senior audience, and to challenge their thinking?
- Do you socialise your vision, and are you getting known as someone who has clear ideas on what should be happening? Stop short of being opinionated, obnoxious and critical.
- Are senior people stopping by your desk, engaging informally with you, to talk about what’s going on – and to seek your input?
- Have you built high-trust relationships with a broad cross-section of senior stakeholders, and earned political goodwill too?
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- Do you understand of the power and politics several levels up? This means knowing the cliques and cabals, the allies and combatants, the history and the ambitions.
- Have you demonstrated your capability to deliver sensitive to the political dynamics, and in an honourable manner for the good of the organisation?
- Are you comfortable and confident to talk about the political ramifications of your work, and your boss’ work, with your boss? They have to know you can handle it.
- Are you visibly acting “as if” you are ready? No doubts. Confident. But not arrogant nor presumptive. Yes, this means with a suitable level of gravitas.
- Have you created the impression that you’re going to fit in well with the more senior community, even if you do create a disturbance to the status-quo?
- Do you have a clear understanding of your competition? There is always competition, so keep a careful eye on what they are doing and make sure you position yourself well in the minds of the decision makers.
- Are you clear about the decision-making processes around your promotion? Processes and protocols as well as who will make the decision to promote you.
- Do you know what you want? Position, responsibilities, location. As much detail as you can.
- Do your career stakeholders know what you are looking for? Know your own mind and make sure they don’t have to read it.
- Why is it in the best interests of your organisation to promote you?
- How does your promotion serve the interest of the most powerful, or work against their agendas?
- What alternatives do you have elsewhere? Don’t put all your faith in the promotion. Having a plan B will make plan A far more likely.
Now, I have to be honest with you.
If you can answer all of these questions positively, you may still not get promoted. Even the most influential don’t always get their way, when they want it.
Promotion has its right time and place. People may have to move on, create the space for you. Bigger structural moves may need to pave the way for your progression.
So a fair degree of patience is needed too.
Though, if you can answer all of these questions positively, you’ll be in poll position when the time comes, you’ll be ready.
Colin Gautrey
Provocative Coach/Mentor | Specialism: Impact and Influence
Ready to take the next step? Discover how personalised coaching can ignite your full potential and accelerate your success. When you’re ready, let’s talk about how we can work together to turn your vision into a reality.
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