Get Your Act Together

So your goal for this year is to be promoted?

Why? What are the benefits to you?

What are you doing about it?

Are you perceived as promotion material by those with the power to grant your wish? And, more importantly, do they know that you would like a promotion? Have you made this point clear?

Let us begin at the beginning and take a logical approach to the achievement of your goal.

1.     Do you know exactly which promotion you want and exactly what it will mean to your life? What changes can you expect to experience – from the extra hours you may be expected to work, extra travelling to the new responsibilities. Are you certain that you have the necessary skills for the role – and the necessary self belief?

Do your research. Find out exactly what the promotion will require of you and begin to adopt those behaviours NOW, in advance of even mentioning your wish for a promotion or applying for the role.

Acquire the new skills you will need and be sure that you are noticed as you change your behaviours to that of the successful employee who is an asset to the company

2.     What do you expect to gain from the promotion? Are you also clear on what you would be expected to give? Does it seem to be a fair trade-off to you? Are you ready to give all that will be expected and more to be the model employee?

Check in with your values to be sure that the extra money or your own office are adequate compensation for the extra time and effort that will doubtless be required of you. Talk to someone who already holds the role – maybe in a different company – to find out the reality of the role. If possible, take a day to shadow them – that ‘try-before-you-buy’ strategy that is so important.

3.     Change your behaviours to match those of the person you wish to be. Change the way you present yourself – the way you dress, the time you arrive for work and the time you leave, the people you associate with at work – ditch the moaning brigade.

If you aren’t comfortable associating with more senior people or more focused colleagues then you probably aren’t ready for the new role. They say that you are as successful as the people whose company you keep. Negative people and moaners won’t help you get to the top. If you have to change your friends to achieve success – are you prepared to do it?

4.     Be prepared to use your own time and money to gain qualifications, attend courses and network. If you really want the success you will find a way to achieve it – but you have to be determined and single minded.

What new skills do you need to acquire and where can you go to acquire them? Again, do your research. There are many online courses and webinars as well as evening classes and weekend retreats and conferences. Do what most of the others won’t do and commit to ongoing learning and constant improvement.

5.     Once you are behaving as the person who has the job you want and looking the part you can begin to make your promotion intentions clear to the ‘powers that be’.

Be seen demonstrating your new behaviours and new dress code. Go out of your way to add value to the company and ensure you are noticed for this by those who have the power to recommend you. Ignore those who have a vested interest in keeping you down. This could be your biggest challenge.

Then actually tell people that you have gained new qualifications and that you are ambitious and want to be promoted. They aren’t mind-readers. Become the person who is looked to for excellence and develop a unique niche within the job – something that you are known for and for which your expertise is sought.

Stand out from the crowd for career success – by rebranding yourself as the success you want to be.

What do you need to do now? Only you can answer that question. But my purpose, with my unique MAP system, is to give you that competitive edge that will set you above your competition in the mind of your employer. So check out my website at www.successandimagecoach.co.uk or email me at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk to let me know what you need from me.

Silver and Gold Support Programme members receive ongoing support from me to assist them in their goal of getting to the top – they do what most don’t – they invest in their future success. Email me at sue@successandimagecoach.co.uk for details of the programmes.

Copyright © 2013, Sue Courtney – Success & Image Ltd. All Rights Reserved.