Most people don’t want to stay in one role for their entire career (although there’s nothing wrong with that – find your niche and go for it), and that means upward mobility. So how do you get promoted?
First, it’s important to know what your goals are and why you want to be promoted. Some people come down with a case of “manageritis,” where they simply long to be a manager. Maybe you’ve outperformed your metrics and/or peers and think you should move a rung up on the ladder. Or perhaps you’ve looked at one or more of your supervisors and thought you could do their job. And no one will blame you for looking for a bump in compensation, which is probably the number one reason people are looking for a promotion.
Whatever your reason, keep your larger goals in mind. I would advise you to read Simon Sinek’s Start With Why and figure out why you’re doing what you’re doing, not just at work but in life in general. For example, my “whys” include the fact that I enjoy helping people and I love building teams, two things that marry quite nicely with the retail automotive industry. Once I did the work of figuring that out, my career became much easier to navigate.
OK, so let’s say you’ve got that figured out and you still want that promotion. Now what to do?
- Ensure you and your immediate supervisor are on the same page as far as their expectations of you and your performance. Are the expectations written down? If not, I would do so as soon as possible. What metrics can be measured and improved upon? Your first responsibility is to make sure everything in your current job is being taken care of before you can worry about moving up the chain of command.
- Talk with your superiors about opportunities that may become available. This is a little bit tricky but you should be able to have open and honest discussions about career aspirations. True leaders are always looking to build their “bench strength” and find the next generation to succeed them. If your boss wants to keep you where you are because of their own insecurities, start looking for another place to work.
- What other things can you take off their plate? Trust me, your supervisor has more on their “to-do” list than you can imagine. You might have to ask this question of your boss more than once, simply because no one wants to admit that they might need some help. A good manager delegates and appreciates when others want to pitch in and help get the job done.
- Ask people in other departments if they need help with anything. Crazy, I know, but it works. For example, if you’re a salesperson, ask the service advisors if they need anything. And ask them regularly, if not every day. Most of the time people will give you a “no,” (they’re trying to be polite), but eventually they’ll see your sincerity (you are being sincere when you ask, right??) and get your help with something. It goes a long way in you becoming a “go-to” type of employee.
- Look at decisions through your boss’ eyes. One of my first mentors taught me that when I was faced with a decision, try to think like the manager one level up from me and what he or she would do. It doesn’t mean you have the authority to make the decision, but it helps with understanding why they would do it.
When I was a salesperson, I remember my bosses taking some ugly deals that didn’t make sense. That’s because I wasn’t looking at the bigger picture (maybe taking in a trade, getting finance an opportunity to make money, etc.). And when one of these happens, don’t be afraid to ask them about it and get their reasoning. Once again, a good manager is not afraid to discuss their decisions and won’t feel threatened by you. - Become indispensable. You want to be the person everyone can count on. You not only excel at your current job but are willing to pitch in and help others get theirs done as well. This does not mean that you are the doormat that gets taken advantage of! Have a positive attitude every day, even when you’re not having a great one yourself. Ask others how they’re doing and be there for them when they need it. In due time, others will notice your efforts and you will be considered part of the rock-solid foundation of your workplace.
- Find (and train) your replacement. This one is a little weird as well. The reason for it is that your boss may not want to promote you because they don’t have anyone to take your place. If you’re not grooming your successor, you may find yourself stuck in place for a long, long time. Look inside and outside your company for this person.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of things to do, but it’s some of what has worked for me thus far in my career. What have you done to get promoted? I’d love to hear your stories and feedback.
Make it a great day! Dan
