The Secret to Getting Promoted
Follow Quinn’s Law #2 and You Can Get that Promotion You Want
To get promoted, you need to focus on three things, if you do, you will maximize your promotability in the eyes of your superiors.
“Why Should We Promote You?”
Have you heard these words before? If you have, getting that promotion you want may be difficult. The boss isn't sold yet. Leaders typically promote people for one or more of the following reasons:
Performance – Deliver results and you become a person of value. The problem is, they may find you too valuable to promote – you can make your bosses look good, performing right where you are!
Potential – Demonstrate ability to do a more important job and you will not have to be expert at the one you have. Example: The best baseball managers were rarely great players. The best orchestra conductors are typically not the finest musical performers.
Image – (“Looking Good” vs. “Doing Good”) Market yourself to your superiors and they will be more likely to take notice but be careful - make sure you can back up your “smoke” with “fire”.
Chemistry – Cultivate a strong relationship with your boss. Many leaders promote (and hire) in their own image. Rarely will someone promote you if they do not feel comfortable around you.
Quick Study – Throw yourself into new responsibilities. Leaders feel more confident promoting subordinates that demonstrate the ability to learn new things (jobs) quickly.
Team Player – Work collegially with your peers. Mavericks rarely get promoted - even if they achieve exceptional results.
Inepotism – Hang onto a rising star's coattails. This is the corporate version of what often occurs in family businesses and a smaller corporations. Typically, the boss surrounds himself with loyal but inept subordinates, avoiding others whose abilities make him feel threatened.
With so many factors to consider, why not follow one simple rule that will enable you to put your best foot forward on the road to a promotion?
Quinn’s Law #2 – How to Get Promoted
Assuming you have demonstrated solid performance, there are three things you can do to get promoted faster:
(1) Be the best - a top 10% performer
(2) Win Organizational Support
(3) Create your personal “Claim to Fame”
You must have two out of three to rise on the fast track
Be the best - a Top 10% Performer – There are very few people who consistently perform at this level. If you are one, congratulations! Now your challenge is to be certain that documentation supports this outstanding achievement. No matter what the numbers say, your most recent performance review must place you in the top performance group. Otherwise, you are not a Top 10% performer. If you are not in this group, then you had better take heed of the other two parts of Quinn’s Law #2. Believe it or not, you have the least influence over (1) compared to (2) and (3). It's amazing how mediocre performance reviews are used to block promotions but often strong ones will not result in a promotion.
Win Organizational Support – Recruit adherents to your cause (getting promoted) every day. Co-workers, customers and suppliers can all help. Entertainer Jimmy Durante once said, “Be nice to people on the way up because you meet them on your way down.” Don’t forget that these people can influence how your bosses see you. Treat co-workers and subordinates right and they’ll say the right thing when asked. You’ll know you got this right by the level of applause when you get that promotion.
Have a “Claim to Fame” – This is hard to do but always worth it. Do something so noteworthy, so outstanding, so unusual, that everyone will say, “She’s the one who did [fill in the blank] when you call in the office or walk past. Land an important new customer (or save an existing one). Invent a new product or turn around a bad situation. Be sure it’s documented.
If you can do two out of three, you will hasten the day when you will hear those wonderful words, “We’re promoting you.” If you can do them all, you are a shoe in. The key is to focus on your work, becoming a person of value in these ways and let the boss worry about promoting you - it's his call - not yours.
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