6 Reasons You Won’t Be Promoted Any Time Soon
Source: The Muse
Ever wondered why you work so hard yet no one seems to reward your value?
Well, it could be what you are doing now that is standing in the way of your promotion.
Below are 6 convincing reasons why you will never get that promotion you wanted at work.
Reasons Why You Wont Be Promoted At Work
1. You Lack the Skills Necessary to do the Job
One of the most common misconceptions employees have about promotion decisions is that they’re based solely on performance in their current role.
While that’s certainly a consideration, success in one area doesn’t always translate to success in another.
For instance, someone who excels at data entry may need additional education or training to become a data analyst, a job that requires strategic thinking and problem solving abilities.
Become familiar with the requirements of the job you want, and determine what skills you need to improve upon if you’re going to succeed in it.
2. You Don’t Take Feedback
Feedback is not always a bad thing. Is it possible that your boss has some valid points? She’s telling you how to improve your performance—and this is good information to have when you’re gunning for a promotion.
When you receive feedback, whether in your review or in the hallway, resist the urge to defend yourself. Try to take it in and see what you can learn from it, instead.
3. You Lack Professionalism
It’s not unreasonable to expect that, as you move up the career ladder, you’ll begin to conduct yourself more professionally—and not just when the boss is looking.
This may seem obvious, but how you behave in the company of co-workers is just as important, if not more so, as how you behave around management.
4. You Don’t Take Initiative
Becoming a problem solver shows that you care—not only about your own career, but about the long-term health of the business as well.
Don’t just document the problems you see, analyze the issues and find ways to get involved in developing the solutions.
Collaborating with others to create positive change will identify you as a leader in your organization. Remember, anyone can drop a complaint into the suggestion box.
5. You Think Like an Employee—Not a Manager
If you’re giving them the impression you’re only showing up for a paycheck, it’s not likely that you’ll be high on their list of candidates.
No, you don’t have to become a workaholic or start hanging out long past five or six just to “be seen,” but it’s a good idea to express interest in the things that happen when the meter isn’t running.
6. You Expect It
Lastly, recognize that in today’s environment, tenure is no longer the primary factor in promotion decisions, and is best left out of any arguments you might make on your own behalf.
These days, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve been there six months or six years—it’s all about your contribution.
Being denied a promotion doesn’t need to be the end of the world, so take these lessons, learn from the past, and keep that promotion coming
