9 Reasons Why You Haven’t Been Promoted

You’re a hard worker – you are in early and stay late to finish. But still you’ve seen others who aren’t as good as you promoted above you. 

Why?

Here are some of the reasons why you might not have received a promotion:

1. Thinking promotions are based upon hard work. Working long hours and being good at your present job aren’t the basis for a promotion. To get a promotion you need a “secret ingredient” that isn’t based on tenure.
2. Not telling anyone you wanted a promotion. You’ve got to advocate for yourself. Your manager might not realize you want a promotion. They might think you are happy where you are. When I wanted a promotion that used more of my newly acquired MBA I told my manager. And although he wasn’t the best leader I’d ever had, he kept his eye open for opportunities and got me an interview in another department. (PS I got the job and it was the start of a new phase in my career!)
3. Down-playing your contribution. Responses like “it was nothing” or “it was a team effort” are minimizing your contributions. Take credit for your work. That’s the only way people will know your contribution.
4. Not stepping up to take on more leadership responsibilities. Good things don’t always come to those who wait. Volunteer for more leadership duties. Campaign for a leadership role on a new project.
5. Not taking feedback well. If you argue with someone regarding feedback they gave you, you have taught them to not give you honest feedback in the future. You’ll never get better if you don’t take feedback better – and this is done by listening to and acting upon feedback. Always say thank you for feedback!
6. Getting caught in details. Leadership calls upon you to see the bigger picture AND the trees. Not just the trees. Start using Systems Thinking to look at the entire system/picture/project.
7. Not understanding your role in the organization’s strategy. You are not an island, but are part of the organization’s success. If you see your department as a separate entity and you don’t work cooperatively with other areas you will never be promoted.
8. Ignoring corporate values and norms. The organization’s culture is built upon the values that are rewarded. You’ve got to follow the corporate values and norms to move up. In one place I worked, we decided who we laid off not based upon their output, but on how they lived the corporate values. If the organization believes in comradery and you skip the corporate BBQs, you won’t get promoted.
9. Lacking people skills. The “soft” skills are actually the most difficult ones to learn and implement. Without good people management skills you won’t get a promotion. If you don’t communicate well, get along well with others and lead fairly you will stay where you are for a long time.

These mistakes are more at play than your performance when it comes to deciding who gets a promotion.

If you are frustrated by your lack of career progress, then start working on the nine reasons above.

One of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to overcome these reasons and gain that "secret ingredient" is to hire a business coach.

Let’s talk about a tailored and results-based coaching program to ensure you’re next in line for a promotion.

Contact me at Valerie.MacLeod@HainesCentre.com