It’s performance review time!
Wondering how to get a promotion at work? Here are some quick tips for women (that work for men too!)
Don’t wait for a tap on the shoulder
Women have a tendency to think hard work is enough and that their good work will speak for itself. The reality is that managers are so busy with their own jobs and managing other people that this approach is more like a whisper in the wind. Women need to take a more direct approach with promotions. They need to speak for themselves and direct attention to their achievements. Your career is in your hands. No-one cares as much as you do, so don’t leave it to chance. Have a plan, be strategic, stay focused.
Define success
Be clear on your next step. Is this the job you want or the one that is expected of you? What skills do you need to develop for your role in five years? How does your next role fit into your long-term career plan? Get crystal clear on your career goals before applying for any promotion.
Know your value
I don’t mean your work experience or qualifications. I mean your actual value - the culmination of your life’s experiences, your temperament, working style, your personal qualities, values and your interpersonal skills.
Women tend to undervalue their personal strengths and over-inflate the importance of work experience in the actual role. See beyond the direct skill and emphasize the transferable skill. So you haven’t negotiated large deals before? No biggie. You have wrangled four kids under four at dinnertime. You have skills - conflict management, emotional resilience, patience, body language, persuasion, problem-solving, creativity - you name it, you’ve got it. Don’t underestimate its value.
Build you brand
People hire people they know, like and trust. Get known. Build relationships across the business. Find out who the decision makers are and build a reputation with them. Show your passion for the work you do. Passion is compelling and makes you more attractive as a potential candidate.
Enrol advocates
Let others do the heavy lifting. Enrol a posse of peeps to sing your praises and raise your profile. Third-party endorsements are living references in your CV. They have the power to push people over the line when hiring you.
Praise for promotion
This is a cheeky one, but it works! Use praise to make yourself more visible and memorable. People associate strong, positive feelings with people who make them feel good. It’s the same principle as ‘shooting the messenger’, where we transfer the feeling of the message to the messenger, but it works in reverse. So, if you compliment someone and make them feel good about themselves, they unconsciously also feel good about you. That’s got to be a good thing for a promotion, right?
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET SNUBBED
Define what’s important to you. Ask yourself what will you get from staying? Is it of value to you? For example, if you stay but feel undervalued and resentful, and there’s no growth left in the role, then I’d leave. Don’t risk the potential brand damage of disillusionment and disinterest with your role.
However, if there is a big project you can still complete that will allow you to beef up your CV and make you more employable for someone else, then I would bide my time, get that experience and then use it to get a promotion in another company. Stay focused on your long-term plan and ensure that everything you do contributes to achieving your ultimate career goals.
This article originally appeared in WHO Magazine on May 2023.