The year is advancing and maybe you are worried you have not made enough progress in your career. Roberta Matuson* says it is not too late to employ some important strategies.
Are you looking to get ahead and earn more money? Here are some strategies to help you become a prime candidate for your desired position.
Provide exceptional value
Lots of people provide value to their organisations, but few do so in an extraordinary way.
You can increase your worth by doing the following.
Increase your skills so you can deliver better results for your team.
Make yourself indispensable.
If the thought of losing you to a competitor is alarming to your manager, you’ll be much more likely to score the next available promotion.
Take on the tough jobs others are shying away from.
Take note of who is getting promoted
Certain personality traits or achievements in some organisations tend to lead to a promotion.
In other organisations, those who demonstrate strong social skills or have a knack for being a team player are most likely to move up the corporate ladder.
Be aware of how promotions work in your organisation so you can fine-tune your behaviour accordingly.
Don’t wait to get noticed — toot your horn
Many workers believe if they do good work, people will notice.
If only this were true.
Look for opportunities where you can showcase your skills and be sure to remind your boss of your accomplishments well before your annual review.
Act like a leader
Be the person who takes the lead on a project.
Offer to cover for your boss while they are on vacation.
Be the person who identifies and solves problems.
Be reliable
Become the person your boss can depend on regardless of the situation.
Invest in yourself
Hire a coach to help you identify behaviour that might be getting in the way of your career advancement.
Spend the necessary time to modify this behaviour.
Ask for the promotion
Don’t make the common mistake of thinking your boss knows you want a promotion.
Tell your manager exactly what you’re looking for in terms of career advancement and be sure to remind them occasionally.
*Roberta Matuson is President of Matuson Consulting which helps Fortune 500 companies and high growth businesses create exceptional workplaces leading to extraordinary results. She can be contacted at [email protected].
This article first appeared at matusonconsulting.com.
