Balance the ladder
When you climb up a ladder, you not only need to balance your feet but also the ladder. Similarly to get promoted you need to learn not only how to manage the team reporting to you but also how to manage upwards. Like you have established a strong working and inter-personal chemistry with your team, have you done the same with your boss and other managers? Invest time and figure out what are their KPIs and work styles and how can you help them achieve their individual goals. Like you expect complete loyalty from your team, give unstinted support to the ladder above you. Only then does the entire ladder balance well enabling you to climb up quickly.
Say No
The only limited resource in your career is your time. Almost all other resources required for success have immense flexibility and can be obtained with some effort. The best time management skill is the ability to say “No”. Say “No” to demands on your time that do not add value to your immediate and long term goals. Refuse tasks where there are no specific measurable outcomes. Turn down opportunities and meetings that will occupy your time without advancing you towards your defined goals.
Pick up the Hammer
Figure out activities which will help you make the maximum impact at your workplace. How will the impact be measured and attributed to you? Once you have identified the numbers you want to reach in a week, month and year, write down a time-bound plan of how you will get there, what resources you will need and what time you will invest. Stick to the plan rigorously and review yourself against it at the end of each week. Make adjustments as you follow the plan. At the time of promotion, your achieved numbers speak the loudest.
Own the Company
Be immensely curious about everything that is going on. Pause and think about what each event or activity means for the company. As you go along, you will acquire the attitude of a company owner. Everything that occurs will have a reason and impact on either the company’s revenues or costs.
Your communication style will evolve into that of an entrepreneur focused on success. Your actions will align to the company’s unspoken needs. Over time, you will also be the first person consulted for every project. Employers tend to promote company owners before mere employees.
Seek the Critic
Do you face criticism on your outputs? If not, then you won’t get promoted since your work has no space to improve and evolve. If your boss isn’t criticising, you have stopped mattering. If your team does not criticise, is it because you react defensively and no one wants to give you feedback? Seek people who are willing to critique what you are doing and express gratitude when they do so. Getting feedback from your team means that you have earned their trust. Filter and use all feedback to improve and work towards the next level.
Speak up
You demonstrated your sales expertise when you made your CV, sold yourself during the interview and got this job. Now are you doing the same to achieve your annual goals? Go sell your plans to your team, make a presentation to your managers, and seek resources for your targets. As you achieve goals, sell your achievements to your boss. Demonstrate how they fit in with his and the company’s goals. Your emails and conversations recording your achievements constitute the CV that will be evaluated during promotion-time.
Pick your Investments
Choose the people who you will invest time in. List down five people with who you spend the maximum time at office. Your performance is likely to be the average of these five. Are you spending a lot of time with gossip mongers and non-performers? You are unlikely to get far since their image will stick to you. Where possible, choose projects and teams where you spend time with people in the fast track, who are both professional and ambitious.
Face the Sun
No one appreciates the rain while commuting to work. Similarly, no one likes a wet dishrag at office who is constantly whining. If you carry a sense of entitlement on account of your education, seniority, past work-ex etc, you will find detractors. Choose to be optimistic and cheerful. Your attitude will attract energetic team members. Your sunny attitude makes it easier for your boss to discuss new projects and responsibilities with you and thus earn you the next promotion!
