Ayanna E. Jackson
Aug 31, 20192 min
My last article identified some key reasons why you may have not been promoted in your current role. It also listed some areas to consider in your organization on how promotions are achieved and discussed among leadership.
Now I'd like to provide you with some scenarios to think about and key actions you can take to overcome those challenges identified.
Here's a challenge for you: Go to your boss and ask "What's your pain point? How can I help with that?" Watch it pay off! The motivation in doing this is to get you to think about how you can help your boss, the team or the company. If your manager sees you only doing what your comfortable doing or only doing "what's in your job description" then how motivated do you think they'll be to tap you to do even more, gain more, or learn more? Do you come across as resentful when asked to do more? If so, maybe you're making the work personal and more about you than the actual job itself. You have to be trusted with the little things before you'll be asked to handle the big things. So you may be saying, "But Ayanna, I do a ton and my boss never says a thing!" Rest assured friend, your boss isn't the only one watching: your team members, other managers, the people you work with. The work is never actually "done." There is always more to do. When you seek to work with a service mindset and not for the glory or recognition, success will follow. One of my favorite quote is by motivational speaker Les Brown: "The road to success is always under construction."
Your personal board of directors are the 3 to 5 people in your trusted circle that you can go to for guidance regarding your career. Now let's not define "getting guidance" as people you dump all your problems on and not be open to solutions. Those 3-5 people can be a mentor at work or outside work or a colleague in a professional organization. Someone who is or has been in the role you aspire to be in that can mentor you on skills and developmental areas. A leader in the department who is not in your line of management. Your HR Manager on the job who can provide guidance on how you can interact across the business or for certain company initiatives. The very random person in another department who you are on a group project with. If you're responsive, do your job well, and show yourself capable, these are the people who will "speak to your greatness." These are the people who will help with your image and gain you that very important part of the pie: exposure. I challenge you to reach out to someone TODAY!
Still a lot to unpack, I know! But careers are long and require consistency on your part for success! If you'd like to ask questions or get more insight, join me every Tuesday on Facebook Live for my weekly Career Tips Tuesday Q&A Session.