Stop asking your boss for a promotion. Do this instead.
Does this sound like you?
You have been told you are in line for a promotion or you feel like it is just around the corner but in reality it’s been six months and nothing has really changed, except you have been given a lot more work.
What if the next the next time you met with your boss, instead of asking her when you will receive a promotion YOU TOLD HER you are ready for a promotion NOW and here are all the reasons why?
How does that shift your thinking?
If you watched my Facebook LIVE last week, you know that I am in full blown potty training mode with my 2 year old. And one of the lessons I learned from both the Oh Crap! potty training book I am using, as well as my own observations, is that the only real way to get my son to sit down on the potty is to TELL not ASK.
My husband is having a more difficult time with this lesson. I hear him over and over ask my son if he needs to go potty. And what happens? My son runs away as fast as he can and giggles as my husband tries to catch him and put him on the potty anyway.
If the outcome is going to be putting him on the potty regardless of whether he wants to go or not, why even ask the question at all?
We do this to ourselves ALL THE TIME at work. Instead of simply telling our boss we are ready for a promotion, we ask them. And how do they respond? They DODGE THE QUESTION.
Why?
? Because they don’t want to upset you.
? Because they don’t actually know the answer.
? Because they can’t make false promises.
And what are you left with in return? The false sense of hope that a promotion is coming someday but in the meantime, you just keep on doing what you are doing.
This is a big deal.
Not just because you are not getting the promotion that you rightfully deserve but because eventually you will snap.
? You will continue phoning in the work, being frustrated and make yourself and your boss believe that you are no longer the right person for the job.
? You will be so frustrated at being undervalued and under appreciated that you will quit and go to another company.
? You will jeopardize relationships, credibility and self-confidence.
But I believe there is a better way.
What if you could apply the method of TELL not ASK to your conversations with your boss?
? Even if the end result was the same, at least your self esteem would still be in tact.
? At least you would feel pride knowing that you gave it your all and it just wasn’t the right fit.
? PLUS you would take all of that knowledge and clarity and focus into whatever you decide to do next.
But how do you TELL not ASK?
Here are 3 simple ways you can get started today.
1. Create a business case for yourself
Let your boss know exactly what you have accomplished recently and what the impact has been on your team, the org, etc. Don’t assume they know. Tell them again anyway. Don’t be afraid to speak about the impact you are making. Really paint a picture for them of what has improved since you took over the job.
2. Share your long term vision
If it’s their job that you want, don’t be afraid to tell them that. You are not saying that you want them to leave. Ask them about their career aspirations. Chances are they are looking to get promoted too. Set yourself up to be their successor. And make it known that this is what you are doing.
3. Speed up time
Don’t get stuck in the trap of being told that you will be promoted during the next cycle. Take a risk, ask them what would it take to make the promotion happen sooner. Ask if it has ever happened before that someone has been promoted off cycle. If they don’t know or still aren’t budging, ask others. Find out exactly what you would need to do to get promoted off cycle. This will not only set you up as someone who is serious about the promotion but it also shows your willingness to think outside of the box. Which is one of the #1 qualities every Executive Level manager MUST possess to succeed.
How does this shift in approach sound to you? Scary? Motivating? Not quite sure?
The good news is, you don’t have to figure this out on your own.
If this message is resonating with you, the next step is to book a 1on1 Discovery Call with me.
On the call, you’ll explore with me the contribution that you long to make in your career, how you are holding yourself back, and how to get where you want to go. If it feels like we’re a match, I’ll invite you to join my 1-on-1 coaching program, The Leadership Leap where high-potential managers become high-performance leaders.
Here’s to making organizations a better place, one well-deserved promotion at a time.
All the best,
Stacy
PS: There is no better time than right now to start investing in yourself. Sign up today for your FREE call.Report this
