How to Get Promoted at Work: Top Strategies and Tips
Learn how to get promoted with long-term strategies and essential tips. Find out the best ways to show responsibility and earn a career upgrade.
Many people in the corporate world are still rooted in the outmoded belief that their hard work should speak for itself. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to be acknowledged for your work and the hours you put in.
Earning a promotion allows you to receive a higher income, take on more responsibility in your organization, and gain a greater sense of accomplishment.
But if you’re part of a large organization with hundreds of other professionals competing on a daily basis, that may not be enough. To successfully progress in both your career and company, you’ll need to have outstanding job performance and attract the attention of your seniors.
In this article, we talk about ways to potentially improve your chances of earning a job promotion.
- 9 essential skills for earning a promotion
- What practices should you avoid as a professional?
- 4 tips to get a promotion faster
9 essential skills for earning a promotion
If you’re angling for a promotion in your company, you need to stand out from other professionals, especially if many of them are vying for the same position. Having a strong work ethic, being determined to succeed, and keeping a positive outlook will be key on your journey to career development.
Promotions are often a zero-sum game: In order for one person to win, others have to lose. However, while you are in a competition with your colleagues, you’ll want to keep a professional perspective. Treating colleagues with compassion and respect, and continuing to be a team player, is both the morally right thing to do and will help show that you have the emotional intelligence to take on more responsibility.
Keeping those points in mind, let’s explore nine essential skills that you’ll need if you want to earn that promotion.
1. Develop leadership skills
As you advance in your career, you’ll need to continually enhance your leadership skills. Prove to your manager that you have what it takes to lead and inspire your team members whenever a new opportunity comes your way.
You should also work toward developing specific qualities that will make you a better fit for a leadership role. These include delegating tasks effectively, prioritizing assignments, setting clear goals, empowering team members, and helping motivate others at work.
Just keep in mind that developing leadership skills doesn’t mean practicing them on your equals or handing off your work. Instead you can learn these qualities by taking courses, reading books, or attending conferences. Interacting with and observing other leaders inside and outside the workplace can help you learn from them.
You can put the theoretical knowledge you gain into practice by volunteering to lead special projects. This is a great way to begin the next step in your career.
Being a leader doesn’t mean snapping at direct reports or having a fearsome aura when you walk into the office. Maintaining positive relationships—we can’t stress enough—is important. And in a conversation about promotions, we should add that maintaining positive relationships has the utility of creating a network of support among your colleagues.
Most senior members in an organization seek the input of others when deciding whether to give somebody a new role. If they see someone in the office with a strong rapport with everyone, and who is solving problems and not creating them, they’ll feel more comfortable promoting that person.
2. Be responsible
For higher-ups to trust you with more responsibility, you need to show them that you’re available, dependable, and trustworthy. Being a responsible worker means that you’re accountable for your daily performance. You need to constantly think about the task before you and try to complete it to the best of your ability.
At the same time, being responsible means acting professionally. Staying away from gossip, not engaging in inappropriate banter, and admitting your mistakes are all ways to show that you have the emotional intelligence it takes to be a strong leader.
Taking responsibility for your work and accomplishing your goals can help give you a sense of value and purpose. These help you feel more motivated, helping you get more done and feel happier in your job.
Remember, other people are depending on you—from team members and your boss to the end customer who will judge your product or service.
Ask for feedback, performance reviews, and constructive criticism. Take these in stride, and do everything in your ability to do better next time.
3. Build support for new projects
When your company has a new project, it will need champions—people who support it and see it through. When these opportunities come up, offer to help lead them.
You could also look for ways to help the company streamline its processes or save money. The scope could range from finding simple ways to cut costs, to increasing the team’s communication, or even boosting customer satisfaction.
If you see an opportunity, develop a business case to show your project’s value. Then, armed with as much information as you can get, pitch the idea to your managers.
Remember, having a great idea doesn’t automatically make you the right person to lead its project; you also need to show that you have the leadership skills for the job. And if it goes to someone else, remain professional, congratulate their success, and keep working toward your goals.
4. Be accountable
Being accountable means being responsible for, and taking ownership of, business goals. Perhaps the first step in accountability is setting realistic goals and taking on only as much work as you can do well and on time.
But remember, you’re accountable for more than your actions and performance. You’re also part of a team. Once you’re confident your work is well in hand, reach out to your teammates and offer to help them.
Be careful that you don’t burn yourself out by taking on too much work. Look for opportunities where you’re confident that you can produce quality results, and be accountable for those projects.
Many little things that create workplace culture are examples of accountability. Showing up on time for meetings, wearing business-appropriate attire, and behaving professionally are all part of being accountable.
Perhaps the last stage of accountability is acknowledging when things haven’t gone according to plan. An accountable person is conscientious and makes an effort to do the right thing—and that includes owning mistakes.
When a project doesn’t go to plan, learn everything you can from the experience, including humility and appreciation for any help you got and anything that went well.
5. Develop a strategic vision
When you set long-term career goals and develop a strategic vision, it shows that you are forward thinking and concerned about the company’s future.
Stay updated with the progress in your department and company. This way, when the opportunity presents itself, you’ll be better able to provide valuable input that aligns with company needs. This is also a crucial skill set for leaders because it helps them motivate the rest of the team and keeps them aligned with the company’s objectives.
You could also consider taking on lateral roles. Moving laterally in a company exposes you to more of the company’s culture, makes you a more valuable asset, and can ultimately help advance your career.
Part of your strategic vision may include ensuring that your values align with your company’s. Feeling good about your company’s values makes it easier to work toward, and stay in, leadership roles.
6. Have a positive attitude
While being happy and having a positive attitude are both their own rewards, studies show they also predict success in the workplace. The old paradigm of taking on too much and being overworked in order to achieve success and happiness has been proved wrong.
Instead, studies show that people who report being happier are more likely to have better evaluations and pay increases eighteen months later.
In “The Six Essentials of Workplace Positivity,” Elizabeth Cabrera—senior scholar at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being—details the benefits of positivity in the workplace.
Her studies suggest positivity:
- Allows people to look at the big picture, think more creatively, and come to better decisions
- Promotes stronger relationships that support people both emotionally and professionally, and can lead to more profitable businesses
- Helps people learn powerful psychological resources, such as increased resiliency, that can help them accomplish goals
Cabrera recommends finding at least three positive experiences to balance every negative.
All that being said, being overly optimistic has its downsides. Research suggests that optimists tend to engage in riskier economic behaviors. They can also struggle to account for and mitigate a project’s potential roadblocks. An optimist always thinks they have enough time and resources… which can put a project in jeopardy.
At worst, an optimist can undermine, instead of validating, another person’s emotions in difficult times. This can seriously damage relationships.
The upshot? Being happy and positive have clear implications for relationships, promotions, and pay raises. But that positivity should be tempered with a healthy dose of realism.
7. Be useful to your workplace and co-workers
Perhaps the first step in learning to be more useful in your workplace and to your coworkers is to set healthy boundaries. Your boundaries need to be broad and flexible enough that you help your team and company thrive, but not so all-encompassing that you’re made to feel resentful or burnt out.
After that, focus on the basics. Be reliable. Be accountable. Work to champion any new projects or directions the company takes. Make sure that you’re an expert in your field and in your position. Being a resource in your area is perhaps the best way to be useful at work.
Then, look for ways to improve the company culture and your team’s work environment.
Get to know both your seniors and colleagues. Find out what their likes and dislikes are, and where their strengths and weaknesses lie. If you see someone struggling in an area you know you can help, don’t be afraid to offer to step in and provide support. And ask for help when you need it.
At the end of the day, if you find yourself spending so much time collaborating that you’ve lost sight of your own goals, come back to, and re-evaluate, your boundaries. Taking a step back is okay, as long as it’s done professionally.
8. Improve communication with your team and superiors
Communication is a key skill set—whether you work in an office or on a remote team. In an office setting, taking advantage of spontaneous interactions is easy. If you see a colleague, smile, say hi, and take time to learn about them.
Practice active listening by giving the person your complete attention, thinking about what you’re being told, and responding to it. Look for non-verbal cues, as well.
For distributed workforces, spontaneous run-ins between colleagues are much less likely to happen. Instead, the company can engineer time for teams to have virtual meetings in which they are free to discuss their hobbies and interests, and to joke around.
Professionals in distributed workforces should make an effort to take advantage of these times. They help build camaraderie and can create teams whose members can depend on each other.
In professional meetings and training sessions, help the meeting stay on topic by not asking distracting questions. Listen actively, but save any sidebars for later, when you can have one-on-one interactions with the appropriate person.
And if you set meetings for your team, be aware of how much is too much. Instead of micromanaging your team through meeting after meeting, studies show it helps to empower them and give them the autonomy to work independently.
9. Observe how others got promoted
Take a deeper look at a few of the professionals in your organization who have earned promotions in recent years, and follow their example. You should make note of how people who were in a similar position as you got promoted.
Looking at which peers get promoted can give you an idea of the skills and achievements that are appreciated within the company. Often, certain roles are seen as a pipeline to promotion, and it might be worth making a lateral move to better position yourself.
Identify the qualities that promoted individuals have and do your best to improve your own skill set accordingly. For example, if you see someone with high emotional intelligence get promoted, you can focus on those qualities. If someone on your team with great technical skills earns a promotion, ask them how they improved their skills in that area.
Identify your weaknesses and look to improve on them. If you don’t have the skills for a particular role that you want, learn them. If you feel like you have a shot at a promotion but you aren’t technically proficient yet, work on that particular set of skills.
What practices should you avoid as a professional?
We’ve covered some of the skills you should learn if you want to get promoted. What about the things you shouldn’t do? Consider avoiding these practices.
1. Not having a connection with your team
Your colleagues and teammates are the people you interact with every day. You’ll end up having a special bond with many of them—celebrating each other’s accomplishments and learning from each other when a project fails.
Even during the bad days, you need to have a connection with your team. Building strong relationships at work is one of the most fulfilling things you can do as a professional.
Try and get to know your teammates on a personal level. Work to forge genuine relationships with your colleagues that allow you to help them. Be approachable at work, and let it be known that you’re someone who’s willing to be useful to others.
Your seniors will notice the energy and rapport in a workplace, so it’s important to have connections and keep a good atmosphere going. They’ll single you out as a positive influence on others when they’re thinking of promoting someone.
2. Pushing your employers too hard for a promotion
You don’t want to constantly nag your manager for advancement—especially if you don’t know they agree you deserve it.
Instead, let your supervisors know that you’re interested. Talk about promotion when it’s appropriate, such as your evaluation or review. Ask what you need to do to improve your chances. If there are classes you could take or certificates you could earn to strengthen your case, go for it.
Many large companies have programs to help with this. Be willing to listen to hard feedback, and develop a plan with actionable details to work on. When a promotion becomes available, apply for it.
If you’re passed over, your manager should schedule a meeting with you to discuss it. Use that time to find out how you can improve.
Feeling discouraged is normal. Step away. When it’s appropriate, take the time to grieve because you’ve suffered a loss. But then pick yourself back up and try again.
3. Neglecting your current job by focusing only on a promotion
Getting a certification or earning a degree might help a lot, but only if you’re able to keep up with your current workload while also studying.
Being useful to your team can feel empowering and is a great steppingstone toward promotion, but not if you have to sacrifice your own projects. Make sure you’re able to manage all your commitments.
Keep on improving your skill set, be a good team member, and improve your leadership skills. These are qualities that will serve you well everywhere!
4 tips to get a promotion faster
You’ve worked on the skills you need, and you know the dos and don’ts when it comes to earning a promotion. But you want that promotion as quickly as possible. Fortunately, we have a few tips for you.
1. Do your research
You’ve nailed all your projects in the last quarter, and you’ve received the “Professional of the Month” award three months in a row. This seems like the perfect time to ask for a promotion, right?
Not necessarily. If you’re unaware of the goings-on within the organization, this could backfire on you. You need to know the state of the industry, the company, and ongoing office politics before you ask for a promotion.
If the business is going through a big transition or world events have had a negative impact on the latest round of investments, it may be best to step back and wait for a better time to ask for a promotion.
Additionally, there’s no point asking for a promotion if there aren’t any spots available. When the time is appropriate, let your manager know that you’re interested in a promotion. Meanwhile, keep improving your skill set so that you’re ready for an opportunity when it presents itself.
2. Ask for a meeting
Your manager—like most professionals—is busy. Be respectful of that, and restrict your conversation about promotions to the appropriate times.
Evaluations, reviews, 1-on-1 meetings are all perfect. But if these aren’t on your horizon, asking for a meeting is perfectly okay.
Let your manager know your ambitions. Ask for feedback, and be prepared for a critical rundown of your skills.
Ask for advice that focuses on actionable takeaways. Are there classes you can take? Certifications you can get? Many companies have career enhancement programs that include reimbursement for college credits, and you should look into those opportunities.
3. Have a number in mind
A quick internet search will tell you all you need to know about individuals who are in similar industries. You can also check out the social media profiles of professionals in similar roles on LinkedIn. Look up average salaries and the skills you need to justify them.
As you interview for an open position, keep in mind average industry salaries relative to your skill set. A risk of internal promotions is being paid a percentage more than your original salary, rather than a number based on the value of the skills the new role requires.
Additionally, some companies have set amounts that certain roles are allowed to earn. Do your research within the company and find out what these numbers are before negotiating. Your supervisor may not be authorized to pay more than the company specifies, and it’s rare for companies to make exceptions.
These are important factors to keep in mind before and during the negotiation process.
4. Follow up
If you don’t follow up with your manager after a meeting, they might forget what you discussed.
Shortly after a meeting, send a professional email or a polite message to your manager. You don’t want to give them a chance to forget what you talked about. Back this up with stellar performances at work and be aware that, in all likelihood, you’ll be under more scrutiny after asking for a promotion.
Earn experience for a promotion
Building up experience is key if you want to earn a promotion. You can boost your experience by doing different projects, tasks, and assignments alongside your full-time job. It can be beneficial to venture out and expand your portfolio for your career growth. This makes you a more versatile, adaptable, and dependable worker.
One of the best ways to gain experience is by freelancing. Freelancing lets you take on virtually any kind of job and allows you to be your own boss. You work on your own time, and you can choose the work you want to do.
Upwork is one of the world’s largest and most successful remote talent platforms. You can conduct a new job search from hundreds of postings on Upwork, so you’ll find your perfect job in no time.
You can take on as much work as you want and build up experience to earn that promotion at work. Find the best freelance jobs on Upwork today.