How to Get Promoted and Kickstart Your Career

·         Set clear goals: Like most ambitions, it’s important to define what success looks like for you before you set out to get promoted. Set clear goals for yourself, and make sure they align with your organization’s objectives and values.

·         Communicate your goals: Once you’ve established your goals, communicate them to your supervisor(s). Let them know you’re interested in advancing within the organization and ask for their guidance on how to achieve that.

·         Have integrity, work hard and do great work: Easily said, harder to do. But no one gets promoted for poor work product, missed deadlines or dropping the ball. Your reputation should be synonymous with quality work, good follow-through and communication – and meeting competing deadlines. There is no substitution for strong integrity and worth ethic.

·         Be friendly, collaborative and easy to work with:  Skill being equal between two employees, the employee who is likable and easy to work with will always get promoted over the equally skilled employee who is difficult or uncollaborative. People want to work with people they like and are easy and flexible in their work approach. Period.

·         Be proactive: Don’t wait for your manager to tell you what to do. Take the initiative to identify problems and propose solutions. Volunteer for projects and assignments that align with your career goals. This demonstrates your leadership skills and shows that you’re committed to your organization’s success.

·         Be a team player: As you work in groups of people, support your colleagues and give recognition where it is due. Act like the manager or executive you want to be and support and lift up all those around you. Don’t take credit for others’ work. Good people recognize others and will be recognized for doing so.

·         Expect to be doing the job above prior to being promoted into it: Oftentimes people think they will be promoted into a job and will be given the chance to learn it. In my experience, 9 out of 10 times, the employee who gets promoted is showing acumen in the skills of the position before being promoted. Show you can do the work.

·         Don’t be a gossip or negative drain: People who aspire for promotion or to move into management cannot be associated with those who gossip about others or are generally known to be negative about the business, customers, industry or life in general. Be positive! People like to work with and for people who are positive.

·         Help your boss succeed: If you have some time and know what pressures your manager is facing with upcoming projects, customers or new business efforts, volunteer to lend a hand in research, writing, brainstorming or other ways to help your boss succeed and feel your value. If you see articles or books that would be helpful to him or her, proactively share them.

·         Demonstrate your value: Show your manager and colleagues that you’re a valuable asset to the team and organization by working on things that address the organization’s priorities and goals. Highlight your accomplishments and contributions to the company, but do so with humility.

·         Live the brand: Be a living testament to your organization’s mission, values and culture. Be the best cheerleader for your company or organization and embody what it stands for and values.

·         Develop new skills: Take courses or attend training sessions that can help you develop new skills that are relevant to your current role or future career aspirations. Your company may even offer financial support toward these classes or training programs.

·         Network within the company: Build relationships with colleagues and superiors in other departments. This can help you gain exposure to other parts of the organization and increase your chances of being considered for a promotion.

·         Seek a mentor: If you see someone you respect and want to emulate, ask if he or she will serve as a mentor.

·         Seek feedback: Regularly ask for feedback on your performance, and be open to constructive criticism. Use this feedback to identify areas where you can improve, and take steps to do so.

·         Understand to be promoted there needs to be an open position to which you can be promoted: Great work is half the battle. Having an open spot to ascend into is the next. Keep your eyes open for opportunities in your straight career path or within your greater organization.

·         Be patient: Promotions don’t happen overnight. Continue to work hard and demonstrate your value to the company. If you’re consistently performing at a high level, you’ll eventually be recognized and rewarded.

·         Stay focused: Finally, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude. Stay motivated and focused on your goals, even if you experience setbacks or obstacles along the way. Those are just learning opportunities that will make you more valuable. A positive attitude will help you stay resilient and keep moving forward.