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UP: Influence Power and the U Perspective-- The Art of Getting What You Want

Friday, January 25, 2008

CAREER COACH

Make your hard work visible when seeking a promotion

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Getting a promotion begins with "taking a good look at yourself and what you want," says Randy Siegel, author of "Engineer Your Career." Determine what makes you uniquely valuable and how you can best use that to help your organization, Siegel says, then take the initiative.

One of Siegel's clients, a resource specialist for a New Jersey not-for-profit, who "did a little bit of everything," took some time to consider what she did well and what she really wanted to do.

During an annual performance evaluation, she asked to be allowed to focus her efforts exclusively on fundraising, an important function in any not-for-profit. Not only was her boss receptive to the suggestion, she was promoted to the position of business developer and given a significant raise.

More often than not, when people ask why they weren't selected for a particular promotion, the response is, "I didn't know you were interested."

Most of us believe if we do a good job, our employer will reward us, but "that is simply not the case" Siegel says. "You need to speak out, talk about what you can do and promote your successes."

Siegel offers these tips for getting the promotion you deserve:

  • Be certain your boss knows you want to be considered for a promotion.
  • Volunteer for high-visibility projects, so key people will notice your value.
  • Find out what you need to do to get promoted, then follow the advice you are given.
  • Keep your boss appraised of how you are following up on her advice and seek performance feedback.

  • Identify an individual being groomed for promotion and indicate you'd be interested in that job; then offer to train your replacement.
  • Without bragging, ensure people know about professional successes.
  • Consider a lateral move that will help you gain critical skills for a promotion.
  • Show enthusiasm for the job. The one who gets promoted is usually the one who shows they want it most.
  • If repeated efforts to seek a promotion are unsuccessful, seek a promotion with another organization.
  • Sometimes, however, the only way to get promoted is to indicate you are planning to leave.

    David Gammel, president of High Context Consulting in Salisbury, Md., once got a promotion because he went to the company's chief executive and told him he was moving to Europe. After David thanked the CEO for all the opportunities he had been given, the CEO asked, "What would keep you around?"

    Gammel responded he'd stick around if he was "put in charge of international." A few days later, his boss came by and told him he was now in charge of international issues for the organization.

    Telling your boss you plan to leave unless you are promoted is an extremely risky strategy. If you choose that approach, you had better have another job lined up; and be prepared to take it. There is an equally good chance that, rather than getting you promoted, this strategy will result in your being shown the door.

    -- A veteran human resources executive, Lee E. Miller is the author of "UP: Influence Power and the U Perspective -- The Art of Getting What You Want," and the co-founder of YourCareerDoctors.com, a Web site devoted to career success. Mail questions to Lee@YourCareerDoctors.com.





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