Get Promoted Faster with These 4 Things
You may be an Assistant Manager, Store Manager, District Manager, or higher and have a real interest in getting to that next level. Regardless of your position, there are always things people are looking for in those that will rise to the top and be seen as the highest potential candidate for a promotion. I typically look at things through a retail lens, but these four things that will help you get promoted in retail will apply to any industry at any stage of your career.
There are no guarantees in getting promotions, nor is there a shortcut. As we look at the below four things, it is not about any one of them individually. It will be about how you connect all of them. It is also worth mentioning that applying these four things in your current environment may not get you the promotion you are hoping for. There are businesses or other leaders that may not recognize the full value of these. In those instances, your best opportunities may lie with other companies rather than where you currently are. Don’t be afraid to explore those options if you are giving everything you have to your existing role, and it is not being recognized as a success.
Have PURPOSE in what you do
The best way to get promoted is to not concentrate your full effort on getting promoted. That is usually a recipe for frustration. Your purpose should be about serving others, advancing, and enabling what is most important to your own values and personal goals. Avoid making promotions about titles or money. Both of those things may bring prestige or enable other things down the road, but if your purpose for being promoted is about getting a bigger title for the sake of the title, you will be disappointed. Connecting your work and daily efforts to your personal ‘why’ will become evident to others. They will see your skills and leadership shine through when you have those in balance. That is the road to promotion.
Have PERSISTENCE in what you do
You will have bad days, even bad weeks, or months in any role. You will make mistakes. You will find yourself in situations where you are challenged beyond your current means. Those are all opportunities for growth and demonstrating that obstacles do not stop you from moving forward. You will be passed over for roles you feel you are ready for. You will be looked past for reasons that are outside your control. Don’t give up. Double down on showing that you are capable, ready, and willing to take on more. If you are continually finding yourself in situations where you are being looked over, persist in finding chances outside your current environment. Not everyone values the same things, and you may also identify that what is important to you is not congruent with your current company. Persistence is about pushing for what is most important to you and what you’ve identified in your purpose.
Have PASSION in what you do
Purpose and passion go hand in hand. I see passion as the driver for enjoyment in what you do. When we do the things we love most, we find greater joy in those efforts and outcomes. If you are passionate about what you’re doing and connected to why you are doing it, you will get noticed. It is usually very easy to identify these individuals who have a strong balance between their purpose and their passion for the work they are doing. They have bigger smiles, more energy, and love to talk about what they are doing and why. There is no faking passion for what motivates you most.
Connect to PEOPLE in what you do
The people element can mean many things. Promotions come to individuals that value others around them. If you are looking to get promoted at the expense of others, you will be looked past. If you are always competing with your peers for the next opportunity versus cheering them on along the way, your promotion will be hollow. That may sound counterintuitive, but this is one I believe in. I would even question the company or the health of the environment where you feel as though you must actively compete with your fellow workers in seeking new opportunities. There is healthy competition and environments where peers push each other to be their best — those are the places you want to be, and your promotion will be the most meaningful in those places.
Arguably, promotions are a type of competition, so I do not want to imply that everyone has the same chance or that you will not have to out-perform others. I am only stating that competition cannot be the only driver for promotion. Nor can it be seen as a win-lose situation. In the best work environments, when someone gets promoted, everyone else celebrates that success. Then everyone goes back to applying their purpose, persistence, and passion to have a chance to be that person for the next opportunity that comes along.
Finally, there is no question that being connected with people improves your opportunity for promotion. Knowing the right people and building a relationship will help. This means treat everyone with respect and know that they may in the future be someone you can connect to for opportunities for advancement. The term ‘don’t burn your bridges’ is a true statement. You never know when you will cross paths with someone in a position that could affect your ability to grow in your career.
All of these have been discussed in the context of being promoted. These are all also ways to be the best you can be in your recurrent role. That is the best way to get noticed, but it does not always have to be about being promoted. We all have seasons in life. You may find yourself in a season where being promoted is not a priority to you. That is absolutely an acceptable thing. It should not stop you from being your best self at this moment. Defining and living your purpose, pushing through to overcome obstacles, showing passion for what you do, and staying connected to people are outstanding qualities whether you hope to be promoted or just be a skilled leader every day.
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