Five Ways to Get Yourself on the Road to Promotion
Posted on October 10, 2013 by Shawn Sommerkamp, One of Thousands of Christian Coaches on Noomii.
There is much advice on the best ways to get promoted. Start with trusting God then consider the following tried and true advice:
1 – Take the Load Off
Every leader has a certain set of tasks he or she must accomplish to be successful. If you want to get noticed, ask your direct manager to give you his highest maintenance action item. It may be collecting data for a series of reports or helping with a difficult employee or managing a challenging customer. If you are close to your manager and have observed them carefully, you may not even have to ask. You may already know. In that case, go directly to your boss and tell them you want to help by taking on the difficult assignment.
2 – Listen!
This one I’m sure you’ve heard before, especially if you are already functioning as a manager. I have a different spin on it. Go and ask for input from your manager and then listen carefully. Ask them what it would take to get promoted. Find out what they see is your greatest area for development. Seek their perspective on how you hold yourself, your professional presence. Listen, take notes and listen some more. Repeat back what they said to confirm.
3 – Master a Collateral Duty
Most companies today require their employees to have annual performance goals. These can be measured mathematically or can be character traits for growth. Other companies have implemented progressive organizational development techniques. Whichever type you work for, be sure to identify one key area in which you want to be leading the pack. Be the expert in this one area of influence. If you take your own growth seriously, your leadership will entrust you with the growth of other employees, departments or larger projects.
4 – Know the Numbers
This is an area so often overlooked, you rarely hear about it from the Executive Coach gurus. If you want to stand out, in a big way, get to know the operational parameters by which your company is measured. Of course Gross Margin and Net Profit are the two big ones. But what about your company’s revenue targets or spend limitations? Where do you tend to have the lowest return on investment? What is your most profitable product line? Depending how high up in the organization you are, there’s a good chance not even your manager knows these answers. Take the time to find out and start keeping track. A time will come when you have a discussion with an executive, and they will surely be impressed.
5 – Fake it Until You Become It
Leadership is a waning trait in the corporate marketplace. There are lots of managers and great ones, too. But seldom do you find a person who really focuses on leadership training. Start acting like a leader. Go to the Books section on my web page and check out a few of the titles I recommend. Put into practice what you learn until it becomes second nature. Keep coming back to this newsletter as I write more about leadership skills and important things to remember. If you cry aloud for wisdom, you will find it. And leadership just may be one of the most important pursuits you can make.
