Are Ready for a Promotion?
Head down. Work hard. Get the job done. Deliver excellence. All these are expected of you, and it is exactly what you are paid to do.
Promotion is not a reward for doing your current role well (although that helps). It is a decision about whether you are ready to operate at the next, more senior level; it is a vote of confidence from leadership that you can take on more responsibility and still excel. Promotion does not happen by chance, it is positioned therefore it requires preparation.
You are not ready for promotion unless you have these 5 things in place:
1) Your Work Aligns with the Bigger Picture – if your work does not align, you risk being overlooked
• Understand your manager’s priorities and align your goals accordingly
• Make sure that your goals clearly support the organisation’s objectives
• You must also be able to articulate your impact in terms of the business outcomes
2) You Are Visible – the worst question about you at promotion time would be: “Who is That?”
• Build recognition beyond your immediate team
• You need to be heard and remembered so always speak up with confidence and clarity.
• Visibility is about intentionally creating opportunities for you and your work to be seen.
3) Your Timing Is Right – poor planning = missed opportunity
• You must know the promotion calendar and eligibility requirements
• Start your preparation as early as possible before formal review periods
• Document your achievements throughout the year
4) You Own Your Advancement – promotion is not accidental. It is intentionally pursued
• Hard work is not a Strategy. Demonstrating your potential for next-level capability is.
• Confirm that a next-level role exists and understand what it requires.
• Register your interest in a promotion clearly and professionally.
5) You Have a Sponsor – sponsors help turn preparation into promotion
• Cultivate relationships with leaders who can advocate for you during the promotion process.
• Attract sponsors by building credibility through consistent delivery and cross-team collaboration.
• Sponsorship is a two way relationship. What value do you bring to a potential sponsor?
We cannot over estimate the importance of sponsorship throughout your career and most importantly during a promotion process. See this short video from Carla Harris on sponsorship and why it matters.
This article is not personal advice. The information contained in this article has been designed for educational and informational purposes only and not for your specific circumstance. It is provided solely to enable you to make your own choices. No material in this article is a substitute for professional advice.
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