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Investing In Your Future: Asking For A Promotion

If you want to move forward with career plans, there are few things as important as having the nerve to ask for a promotion. How you decide to take this important step is critical. Whether you hire an executive business coach to help you move ahead in your career or you do your own research, taking control of your life and career takes courage.

 

Do Your Research and Get Prepared

Being prepared for an important conversation is always recommended. The information you need is already available. Most professionals recommend asking some specific questions about how other people got ahead. This is a smart way to get ready to ask for a promotion.

Once you have completed your research, it is time to put a plan of action together. Writing down your accomplishments and the reasons why you deserve a promotion into management represents a smart way to approach this task. Be sure to use quantifiable metrics to support your claims whenever you can. Stay away from vague and subjective language since that can weaken your case.

Since management is about problem solving, coming up with a list of problems you have solved is a logical way to remind yourself of past achievements. Compiling a one to two page fact sheet is recommended.

Get some feedback from trusted colleagues about whether they think you are ready for the position. Finding coworkers you trust to discuss this with will help you get prepared for this “all important” conversation.

Forbes suggests taking on added responsibilities to pave the way for asking for a promotion. That will help your case.

 

Carefully Decide on the Timing of Your Promotion Request

The adage that “timing is everything” are words that certainly apply to any discussion where one party is trying to win over the other party. Inc. recommends not jumping the gun when you ask for a promotion. It is important that you have had time to prove yourself in the position you’re in before asking for a promotion.

The worst case scenario would be to seek a promotion before you could boast about achievements in your current position. Not only would you lose credibility, you might harm your chances for future opportunities. Proceed with caution and be sure you can explain why you are worthy of a promotion.

There are some obvious times when it is ill advised to approach the subject of a promotion. For example, if the company is laying off people due to economic hardships, that would indicate that asking for a promotion and a raise would not make sense.

With that said, when a job becomes available due to a resignation or promotion, you should take it. You never know when another opening will come open.

 

Make Your Case

When you’re ready, approach your superior and ask them for a meeting. Discuss your career goals and make sure they understand why you are ready to move into another role. Explain the extra duties that you have taken on and talk about your achievements. Any time you can talk about the duties you are performing that are already above your pay grade, you are proving that you are worthy and ready for the next step.

Be sure to discuss all of your “wins” using numbers when you can. By reviewing this information right before the meeting, the facts will be on the tip of your tongue, ready to be retrieved. Focus some of your conversation on how you have handled personnel challenges since management routinely deals with delicate human resource issues.

 

Conclusion

Moving up the corporate ladder is about more than your technical skills. It is your communication skills that will pave the way into management. By preparing for the meeting and practicing the key points you want to make, you plan for success.

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