It is easy to advocate for someone else, which is not the case when it comes to asking something for yourself, things become all the more difficult when you have to ask for a promotion.
You probably already know that doing good work is the single most effective way to show your boss you are ready for more.
Once you achieve that, here are a few more ways that can help you prove to your boss that you are ready.
* Exceeding expectations is only the start: You should look for ways to add value through projects and tasks that are beyond your role.
Find things that need doing that no one has had time for.
* Your hunger should be for the acquisition of skills and knowledge, not about a new office or a better title.
That’s not to say you wouldn’t enjoy those things- after all, you are human- but they should not be your primary motivation.
Resist the urge to talk about what you know or brag about how easy everything is for you. Instead, share what you are learning, and be vulnerable and honest about it.
Learn to sound like an employee who is ready for a promotion.
* As you reach new levels of mastery, take the time to pat yourself on the back. Then, roll up your sleeves and challenge yourself to do what you just did even better.
Most people tend to go for what they know they can accomplish, not what most needs improvement.
Try to have the courage to see yourself objectively and work on those things that most interfere with your own success.
* Managing complexity is different than just being smart; it’s about overseeing multiple tasks with variable goals and execution strategies. Learn to handle multi-layered projects by picking tasks that are progressively more complex.
If you are used to managing tasks that can normally be completed in a month or two, don’t sign up for a project that will take a year to complete. Look for a six-month one first.
When you show you are adept at handling a more advanced project, you are demonstrating that you could work at the next level.
* In every great team, there is at least one person who makes things click because he or she has the collaboration superpowers of listening, compromising, and mediating. Be that person.
Practice your teamwork skills in any chance you get. Contrary to popular belief, leading every group effort won’t show your boss you are the best person to promote.
Courtesy: www.themuse.com
