10 Tips to Fast-Track Your Promotion

Itching to move up the ladder of your career?

Getting a promotion involves more than just hard work.

Yes, you need to work hard, be dedicated and competent in your job to get that big fat promotion. But in these competitive times, a lot more goes into getting a good appraisal. So, we put together 10 tips that can help improve your chances of a promotion.

1. Set a goal and a path to get there

First, figure out what’s the next role or job you want. Then, do what it takes to get there, over and above your current job duties.

For instance, if you are a marketing executive and the next level is to become a brand manager, there might be certain types of projects or training that can enhance your skills and make you better suited for your next job.

“The more initiative the employee takes based on his aspiration, the faster he will learn,” says Sumit Mitra, executive vice-president of human resources at Godrej Industries Ltd. Managers will eventually see that you understand the new role and consider you for it.

2. Don’t wait to be spoon-fed

In this dynamic world, organizations and jobs are evolving all the time and jobs are not simply a certain set of duties. Be on the lookout for what’s changing around you and step up to take on extra tasks when possible. It shows your drive, and perhaps helps the boss out a little bit. Don’t wait for your manager to come and tell you what else you should be doing. The promotion won’t come to you, you need to reach out to get it.

“I would always be impressed by a person who takes a proactive approach in taking on additional responsibilities,” says Nirmit Parekh, managing director and chief executive officer of international executive research firm 3P Consultants Pvt. Ltd. in Mumbai.

3. Be flexible and let it be known

Are you open to moving on to a new job function or to a different location for work? If yes, let your superiors know. Sometimes managers may perceive, for instance, that you might not want to move to another location because your children are in school or your husband can’t move, and thus pass you up for a promotion. Make sure you don’t get tagged with this label.

Some companies, like Godrej, have systems by which you can let your company know of your openness to moving. But if your company doesn’t, “you should informally inform the human resources team; they will have more visibility” of jobs across the company, says Mr. Mitra.

4. Mid-way feedback

The surest way to know if you are on the right track to where you want to go is to ask. While most companies have a formal performance appraisal process once a year, experts suggest that it might make sense to check in with your boss informally, mid-way through the year. This lets your boss know: “I’m here to learn, I’m here to contribute, please let me know where I’m falling short,” says Mr. Parekh. “It also makes the person who you’re asking (feel) respected.”

5. Turn challenges into opportunities

It sounds like self-help babble. But sometimes a promotion or opportunity may really come your way in the form of a challenge, such as a project in a remote part of the country.

If you sign up for it and do a good job, it shows management your ability to handle pressure and your grit. “Going through these challenges not only gives you a sense of newfound confidence, but also gives you recognition that you are just not a peace-time general but a successful war-time general,” says P. Dwarakanath, director of group human capital at Max India Ltd., a financial and healthcare services firm.

6. Be a problem-solver, not a complainer

If you’re working on a project and there is a roadblock, don’t go running to your boss listing all the problems. “If you are expecting your manager to find a solution then I think you are expecting a lot,” says Rajalakshmi S., director of human resources at Pegasystems Worldwide (India) Pvt. Ltd, a business process management firm in Hyderabad.

Instead, be positive and try to figure out ways to solve the problem. This can be a signal to your higher-ups that you have the ability to handle more than just your current job, and might be ready for a leadership role.

7. Find a mentor

If possible, find someone in your organization to help guide you on what you need to do to move up and to improve your visibility in the organization. This is especially helpful in very large companies where younger employees may find it tough to know about various opportunities.

Finding the right mentor might not be easy. Mr. Mitra of Godrej advises looking for someone whose guidance and judgment you respect and with whom you share some emotional connection.

8. Are your goals aligned with the company’s?

As organizations evolve rapidly, they are looking for leaders who understand the company’s vision and whose goals are aligned with those of the company. When possible, find ways to make it clear to your superiors that, at the very least, you are interested in a long-term career at the company that will involve advancement from your current position.

9. Getting the boss equation right

Depending on the structure of your organization, your immediate supervisor may have a little or a lot to do with your promotion. So, keep him or her happy.

That doesn’t necessarily mean inviting the boss over to dinner at your place every other week. Rather, you need to build trust and bonding at a professional level. Following many of the tips above will help. Be a team player and be the person who can be counted on when something unexpected happens or there’s a crisis. Ultimately, you want “your manager (to have) the confidence that you are reliable,” says Mr. Dwarkanath.

If your boss is holding you back, make sure that you’re visible to your boss’s boss, who likely will have a greater say in your advancement. Don’t be thwarted just because you think your immediate supervisor feels threatened by your promotion prospects.

10. Be patient.

It’s like job-hunting in a way. It requires a degree of karma. If you are overlooked for a promotion, don’t sweat too much. Complaining and whining could reduce your chance of being considered for the next one. Obviously, if you keep being overlooked you need to figure out why from your superiors.

But don’t read too much into the first or second time you get passed over. The key is to keep your managers in the loop about your accomplishments. “If there are gaps in communication, then even the worthy many times do not get promoted,” says Ms. Rajalakshmi.