Accelerate your promotion

Last week, we discussed the importance of mastering winning rules for you to be successful.

Today, we want to specifically dwell on universal tactics that you can use to accelerate your promotion. Every company will have some specific measures that would help you to get your promotion earlier than your peers. But we also know of measures that are common to almost all companies. Let us discuss 12 of the key universal measures that you can employ in order to accelerate your climb on the ladder of company ranks:

1. Get a mentor: If you have a mentor, he or she will guide you on your career path. He or she will help to hold you accountable on career development plans that you agree on. Most importantly, since your mentor will most probably be in senior ranks relative to your position, he or she will automatically be your advocate when opportunities arise and are being discussed by senior managers.
2. Nurture your relationship with your boss: In most cases, your immediate boss will have a lot of say and influence on matters relating to your promotion. If you impress your boss, he or she will think of you positively and will connect you with any good opportunities that arise. Spend a lot of time to understand the priorities of your boss, to understand your boss’s approach to work. Your style of execution must align with your boss’s style and must feed into his or her priorities.
3. Think of your next job: Right from the first day in your job, think of the next job that you will do. Consider all the requirements for the next job including the skills you need. Work on building the necessary set of the competences required for your next job so that when the opportunity strikes, you are not left out disqualified.
4. Produce measurable results: In most companies, HR teams look at top performers when they are granting promotions. Make sure that in your work, you produce results that can be measured. Document all your achievements and articulate them clearly. Learn the art of articulating your achievements.
5. Ask for more work: Over time, make your job bigger. There will always be things that nobody wants to do – take them on! When you finish your work, ask for more. Make the earth revolve around you in your department, in your organisation. When they need volunteers, raise your hand up and deliver to the best of your abilities. This way, you will become prominent and valuable. Senior leaders in your organisation will count on you as someone willing to do more for the success of the company.
6. Be visible: You may be great in your job, achieving a lot but if you do not share your successes, nobody will notice you. Yes, we all know that humility is a virtue, but when it comes to career management, you need a bit of self selling and self promotion. Let people know your achievements. Do not be arrogant and don’t boast. You can sell your achievements subtly. Clever ways you can do this include establishing a trend where you regularly share your work highlights with your boss and other relevant people. Be eager and passionate to talk about your work.
7. Keep learning: Learning never ends. With the advent of technology, everything is changing fast. If you don’t learn, you will be left behind. Keep learning. Study the trends in your profession, in your function, in your industry and build your knowledge in the new and emerging areas in your field of play – in the profession and in the industry. This way, you will not only be continuously relevant but also, you will be ahead of your peers. When opportunities arise that need the new skills and competences, you will become the default candidate.

Next week we discuss five measures you can take to accelerate your promotion.