Here’s 30 things you can (and should) be doing.
Daily…
The “easy” concepts of being promotable:
1. Be on time.
To work, to meetings, for deadlines. Missing any of these are not promotable concepts.
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2. Adhere to your company’s corporate culture.
Mirror back and act accordingly with what you see around you. Especially look at the examples being set by the bosses and others who have been promoted and had successful upward movement. If in doubt about your company’s corporate culture, act traditionally.
3. Help others – often.
In fact, go out of your way to help others. They should in turn be willing to help you out when you are in a tight spot.
4. Have a strong work ethic.
Work beyond the punch-clock mentality (even if much of the company culture supports this). If everyone goes home at 5 p.m., what’s to stop you from staying a bit later and getting even more productivity out of your day? Most corporate cultures encourage a strong work ethic.
5. Don’t smoke.
You’re more productive when you don’t take a break to go outside. (Plus you are healthier). When non-smoking management sees people smoking they may tolerate it. Yet your smoking time is not considered productive in the eyes of management.
6. Minimize interruptions.
These are often lost opportunity costs. Every interruption takes you time to go in and out of focus on your work and it’s time that you lose. Unplanned interruptions from your boss and senior stakeholders may be your exceptions yet ideally get everyone in the habit of scheduling.
7. Schedule everything.
Schedule efficiently. “Post” your schedule (online calendars!) to intercept people who may normally barge into your office space. Schedule phone meetings. They take even less time. Schedule interruptions.
Schedule stand-up meetings. They’re faster also. Do walking meetings. Your bosses will see it as a productivity approach and appreciate it.
8. Be passionate about your work.
Don’t fake it. Find the things that really turn you on about your work – even if they are little things. If you are genuine about your love for your work, it will be noticed and you will be noticed. Being noticed is one of the first steps to being promoted.
9. Take pride in your work.
Do a good job. (Enough said).
10. See your co-workers as ‘engaging’ and ‘nice’.
Even though your fellow workers are potential competition for promotion opportunities, it will help you relate to them better. Your attitude becomes a positive influence in the workplace. This will be noticed.
Remember though: Management is paying you for your productivity. As a precaution, do not stand around or sit around with your co-workers if they are “having too much fun for too much time at work”. You don’t want to be seen as part of the ‘pack’. Be the last one in and the first one out.
The tougher concepts of being seen as promotable
11. Be willing to take accountability for everything that you do.
12. Find a mentor and sponsor.
Ideally find more than one! Find a mentor outside of your work as well as a mentor in your company. Mentors open doors. Also find and cultivate a sponsor.
{Want to know the Difference between a Mentor and a Sponsor? WATCH THIS VIDEO}
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13. Be a team player.
You can be both a team player and still be self-motivated, self-sufficient, self-controlled, and self-initiating. Your ultimate goal is to leave the ‘pack’ behind, stand out and get promoted. So continue to hang out with co-workers a little after hours yet don’t make it an every day occurrence. This means that you are not seen as nor treated as a ‘snob’. You may also learn things about company dynamics that you can put to good use.
14. Gain new skills.
Try some after work courses. The interchange of ideas at a College or University can be intoxicating and mind-opening. Plus there is always the opportunity to make good contacts for the future with your fellow classmates. Doing well in courses will build even greater confidence and extra certifications are added to your resume. Your boss should be impressed when it somehow comes up that you are taking advantage of additional learning opportunities. In fact, ask your boss in your performance appraisal what additional education or certifications will be helpful for the firm, your growth and the opportunity to get promoted.
15. Don’t take credit for other people’s work.
Even if it is part of the corporate culture – don’t do it. It’s dishonest. It’s rude. Nothing stays hidden forever these days so you will probably get caught. As soon as anyone knows, your co-workers or boss may plan or conspire to bring you down. They may even be happy if you are caught (see #12). Others can be vindictive enough to red flag you if there is a hint of your being considered for promotion and you haven’t earned it.
16. Don’t exaggerate.
Don’t oversell something that you have done or the results you are getting. There is a difference between highlighting the positives and exaggerating. So don’t over-inflate the significance of what you are doing. When you get found out, it will be embarrassing and most probably will stop your upward motion in the company. You’ll always be remembered for your exaggeration and trust will be broken.
17. Boost your productivity by looking at what you are doing.
Always be asking yourself how you could do it better and faster for your firm.
18. Follow proper meeting etiquette.
Don’t use your cell phone, laptop, or tablet in meetings unless it is required and okay by the senior management.
Even if others are doing so.
19. Be a contributor in and out of meetings.
Say something. Add something to the conversation. What are the bosses looking for? Listen. Then speak up.
20. Step into responsibility.
Take responsibility for your actions. When you make a mistake apologize to appropriate parties and move on.
“I apologize for this mistake.
I will work to make sure that it won’t happen again.”
Saying this statement will go a long way to smooth out the drama you might have caused. So that you can get on with the work you are supposed to be doing.
21. Take intelligent initiative.
Volunteer for new projects and take intelligent initiative. By volunteering and initiating you are putting you in front of your boss as an industrious type who is willing to take on extra work. Occasionally you may be the one to document projects or meetings. When you write reports of meetings/projects, you actually sculpt out what the company or division will be doing and what it will look like. Your perspective is all over the report.
This is a good thing. And you probably will get a chance to meet more with your boss(es) and/or stakeholders… which increases your circle of influence (a promotable factor).
22. Separate your personal life from your business life.
It’s best to leave most of your personal life outside work. You are not being paid to tell your life story, commiserate or gossip with others. Idle gossip takes time away from productivity. Also definitely don’t gossip or rant about your work life outside of work. Being overheard can be disaster. Worse, even your actions outside of work can influence your promotability factor and career.
23. Study the attributes of your boss and other successful leaders.
You were hired for a reason. You may be promoted for different reasons. Understand those reasons. Then you can work better and more focused when you understand the reasons for your importance to the boss and to the company as a whole.
24. Make your boss look good and keep your end users and/or stakeholders happy.
If in doubt, ask what goals your boss and stakeholders / clients / end users have that you can effect for them. Know your value and be able to articulate it. By the way, you don’t need to take credit for all of the good ideas that you activate on behalf of the boss and the company. Your boss will recognize you for this and will appreciate it.
25. Make other bosses look good if you can get the chance.
Look beyond your individual department to help. Promotions often have multiple inputs from senior leaders.
Get permission if there is anything that will take away from your immediate responsibilities in your division yet it is good to be known beyond the hedge of your boss. Proviso: If your boss wants to keep you because you’re really good for the department, this will halt your upward motion and you getting a promotion. Find ways to connect with management beyond your boss – the lateral connections, the connections above your boss. There are ways to engage with other departments for potential promotions.
26. Always be courteous to all co-workers and management.
At. Every. Level.
Listen to your co-workers.
Really – they may have some good ideas. Ask questions. Learn what they know. Learn what helps other people get ahead versus what can kill your career versus get you promoted.
27. The paycheck isn’t everything.
If you are only waiting for your paycheck to arrive every week and find little other joy in your work – dust off the resume and start looking for a new job. You are not going to probably land your promotion as your heart and head are not in the game.
28. Privacy is non-existent at work.
Privacy these days is an illusion. Cubicles are easy to look in on and listen in on. Computers are also easy to look in on (and also because they are the legal property of the firm!). Don’t write or view anything that could compromise your position and your promotability. Keystroke monitors and other digital ‘security’ tools are easy to install and cheap. Phone monitors, too. You are at work to work. Don’t give anyone anything that they can use against you. Use your cell phone for personal email on your own time. This means you are using your own phone provider and not the Wi-Fi of your company.
29. No office romances.
Office romances are not a good idea. Especially if you want to get your promotion. That’s why there are rules in many organizations about this topic and why many people have been fired. Understand that if things end badly there are repercussions that you may not have under control. Find someone outside the office.
30. Take time to de-stress – a lot.
Working is stressful and sometimes it can be overwhelming. You can’t always stop all stresses. And not all stress is equal. Yet you can work to stop your sense of overwhelm. Meditate – or imagine – something that makes you feel good. Exercise. Play a musical instrument. Garden. Do hobbies and sports. Walk a dog. Pet a cat!
Feel and know that life is good. Life is mostly about what you create!
I know from hard won experience that some of these promotion concepts and activities are simpler and easier to execute on than others.
Yet I also know that life is what we pay attention to.
Once you are aware of some of these very simple promotion enhancing concepts they are easier to incorporate in your daily routine.