The Best Way To Get A Promotion

Whether you're just getting started with your career, or you've been actively building your career for many years, the thought of getting a promotion has likely crossed your mind.

Over the years, I've had many team members approach me and ask about getting a promotion. Their drivers for the promotion weren't always the same though. Some were primarily looking for a pay increase. Some were bored and needed a new challenge. Yet, others were simply trying to find the right path to take to achieve their personal career goals. 

What's your primary driver for wanting a promotion?

Let's dive into a few key considerations to think about when looking for a promotion. 

Why Do You Want A Promotion

If you don't understand why you want a promotion, then how do you really know that a promotion is what you truly want? I know... this is kind of a deep question. But seriously, what if you're tired of your current manager, and the only reason you want a promotion is so you can have a new manager? If this is your primary driver, then maybe a promotion isn't your next step. Instead, how about applying for a similar role on another team or in another department. 

And... what if you have similar problems with your next manager? Then, maybe there is a problem with the organization where you work... or, what if the problem is you?

It can be hard to look in the mirror and take ownership over where we may be falling short, but this always needs to be on your mind. 

With this said, it's time to ask yourself why you want a promotion. 

Are you looking for a larger paycheck? 

Are you looking for a more formal leadership role? 

Do you want to move into a completely new role? 

Are you unhappy with your current manager and a promotion will allow you to report to someone else? 

Are you looking for a promotion because "that's what you're supposed to do?" 

Everybody is different... and your reason for wanting a promotion may be different than another person also looking for a promotion.  

Do You Really Know What A Promotion Means?

One thing I learned very early in my career is that if you aren't working with someone else every day, you don't truly know what they do or how well they're doing it. 

Let me explain this in a better way...

Early in my career, I would compare myself to other people I worked with. I would think to myself, "I could do what they do, and I could do a better job." 

The problem was that I rarely... scratch that... I NEVER... knew what other person even did in their role. 

When I was an individual contributor, I would look at people in leadership roles and believe that I could do a better job than them. The problem with this, as I just said, is that I never took the time to truly understand what these leaders responsibilities included.

One time, I had a conversation with my manager and made a comment about another manager. I told him that I could do a better job than the other manager. 

That's when my manager asked me if I even knew what was involved with being in a leadership role. This question stopped me in my tracks because I didn't have a clue. 

All of this is meant to get you thinking and to ask the question. The promotion that you're after... do you know what all is included with that promotion? 

If not, then you need to find out. 

Do The Job First

This quote is attributed to many different people, so I'm not sure who the originator is, but it goes something like this...

"Dress for the job you want and not the job you have."

This needs to be your mindset when it comes to a promotion as well.

Let's say you're going from a Jr. Software Developer to a Software Developer. Look at the job description for the Software Developer role, and start doing everything on it.

Once you've been doing all of the Software Developer responsibilities, you're now ready to be promoted to that role. 

If you think that you can get promoted first, and then start doing the new responsibilities only after the promotion, you're going to be in for a rude awakening.

So, remember, do the job first. 

Ask For The Promotion With Data

Requesting a promotion is going to be a different process within every organization, so figure out the process where you work. 

Your goal needs to be to make it a no-brainer for whoever is making the decision on your promotion.

Put together a document that includes all of the responsibilities related to the position you're asking to be promoted to. Give detailed examples of how you've been doing each of the responsibilities for the past several months. 

Be prepared to speak to each of the examples. 

The Bottom Line

Make sure you really want the promotion you're considering. If you do, then start doing the responsibilities that come with the promotion. Once you've been consistently doing these new responsibilities for a couple of months, you're now ready to ask for the promotion.