Author: Christopher Alarcon / Source: Lifehack
I bet you’re thinking that you’ve reached the height of your career.
You’re scared to try new roles because you believe companies prefer younger employees. No matter which way you look at it, there’s no room to progress or a promotion. The problem is, that with this mindset you cut all chances of ever getting a promotion.
But you’re not alone. A study from Robert and Half revealed that only 39% of employees asked for a promotion.[1] So what’s the solution?
To create a plan.
This is easier said than done. But, if you work on the right tasks I’m confident you’ll get the promotion you deserve.
Let’s look into how to ask for a promotion and move up the career ladder.
The Power of Goal Setting
Your perfect plan will consist of writing down clear and concise goals.
Goal setting is the most important skill you can master to achieve any type of success in your life. Take this Hardvard study for example, where MBA graduates took a survey on goal setting. 13% of students who had set goals with no concrete plans were twice as successful than the 86% who didn’t set any goals.[2]
The interesting part is what happened to the 3% of students who’d set goals with concrete goals. These students were earning 10 times more than the 97% class combined.
Intrigued?
You should be. Goal setting can make or break your chances of reaching the success you desire.
Setting Goals the Right Way
The first step to setting any goal is by defining what you’d like to do.
Since you want a promotion, write this goal down in a journal. Next, break this goal down into micro goals.
For example, ask yourself what’s required to land a promotion in your current role.
A great tool to break down your goals is Workflowy. For most of the goals you’re setting, you won’t have all the answers, but don’t let this stop you from making progress. If you’re ever stuck, make it your next step to find someone who can help you find the answers you’re looking for.
Finally, take time to reflect on your progress. In your journal, you’ll be able to view what’s accomplished and where you’re falling behind. I recommend you check your progress at the end of each week, month, and quarter.
This may seem exhaustive at first, but it’s intended to help you avoid heading in the wrong direction.
Here’s a summary of the goal-setting process:
- Clearly define what you want to do (i.e. Land a promotion in the next 12 months)
- Write your goal down in your journal
- Break your goal down into micro goals (i.e. take 1 hour of a specialized course in my field daily)
- Write down daily goals in your journal
- Review your progress each week, month and quarter to make necessary changes
How to Start Progressing in Your Career
Hopefully, by now you know how important goal setting is. It’s time to start learning the tactics that will help you get that promotion you deserve.
Although I’ll share several tactics to landing your promotion, it’s best that you only focus on 1–2 at a time.
This will prevent you from getting exhausted and help you master each tactic. Start by focusing on the areas you’re the weakest in and move forward from there.
1. Demand a Promotion
Demanding anything sounds harsh, but here’s why it makes sense to do so in your career.
Being demanding will allow you to speak up for yourself and not feel guilty for asking for a promotion. As mentioned before, a study revealed that more than half of employees didn’t ask for a promotion. That’s why being demanding is your ticket to ensuring you’re heard by upper management.
You don’t have to come off as arrogant or rude, rather be someone who knows their value. The problem is, you’re your worst critic. And, because of this, it can sometimes be challenging to focus on your positive qualities.
Here’s a solution:
Start writing down your daily accomplishments in a separate spreadsheet. Have columns for the date, type of accomplishment,…
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