One Thing To Fix Before You Ask For a Promotion:
David was languishing in the same role for 8 years. When he looked back at those 8 years, he noticed that over the same period, his peers and even juniors have made significant progress in their career.
When I was speaking at a public event, he sounded frustrated when he asked this: “ Manoj, despite my excellent work ethics, quality deliverables and taking initiative I am not being seen as ‘ready’ for the next level role. Whenever I went to my seniors they give lame excuses for the delay and promise to look into it during the next review period. Often the bosses change, projects change but my role remains the same. The only noticeable progress is the minuscule increase in my pay and my hair that is turning grey. What am I doing wrong?”
David is not alone. This is a problem for many competent and hard-working executives who harbour big dreams but do not act strategically.
From a leadership readiness perspective, there are two things you need to take note of:
In any organisation, you are expected to demonstrate certain behaviours that make you be seen as good for the current role or ready for the next-level role. However, the right behaviours are not enough. Perceptions about you affect your reality!
However, the right behaviours are not enough. Perceptions about you affect your reality!
You have to take ownership to shape perceptions about you because no one else might do this for you.
You have to take ownership to shape perceptions about you because no one else might do this for you
When you look at Behaviours vs Perceptions, four scenarios emerge, each of which, either accelerates or decelerates your career progression.
Scenario 1: Behaviour is great. Perception is equally great or better. All good!
Scenario 2: Behaviour is great. Perception is wrong. Influential people perceive and believe that you are not ready yet. (If you are here, you have a lot of work to do to ensure that your hard work each year is not wasted. Take a look at 23 key focus areas to demonstrate next level leadership readiness)
Scenario 3: Behaviour is terrible. But, perception is fantastic. (You might have seen people like this in your organisation. Perhaps they got lucky there, but they need to get their act together before their luck runs out!)
Scenario 4: Behaviour is terrible. Perception is equally bad. (This is all red. Those who are here, need to change behaviours or shape perceptions immediately, or wait for the next round of retrenchment.)
On further enquiry and discussion, I found that David’s situation was #2 above.
That’s when I told him about the 23 key areas he needs to focus on to demonstrate the right behaviours, to shape positive perceptions and breakthrough to the next level. To know more about the 23 key areas, click here. The credit goes to David that he focussed to develop himself in each of these 23 key areas to the best of his ability and had a great breakthrough to his next-level role within 4 months. Immediately on getting his promotion, he started working toward the next level role with a well prepared next level leadership readiness blueprint.
David’s turnaround highlights why competent executives need to take massive action to take charge of their destiny. This also proves to show that many hard-working executives need to urgently find out their blind spots, pickup strategies and take deliberate steps to overcome roadblocks for their next level.
Call To Reflection & Action:
In the end, executives at all levels, spend a lot of time, effort and energy at work. Then, why not go higher in the hierarchy and get better rewards?! Get started with any of the following steps.
- Learn about23 key focus areas to demonstrate your next level leadership readiness
- To master these competencies in a systematic, structured, step-by-step process join LEAP — Next Level Leadership Readiness Program and breakthrough to the next level of your career, business, and life.
- To present your ideas with clarity and confidence check out Confident Speaker Program. To master high-impact business presentations check out Business Storytelling and Leadership Narratives. To equip yourself to speak at conferences, check out Professional Speaking Program.
Manoj Vasudevan is an internationally renowned Next Level Leadership Readiness expert, management consultant, and the World Champion of Public Speaking. He helps executives and entrepreneurs to break through to the Next Level in career, business, and life. Manoj is known for his expertise in simplifying complex topics into practical strategies. He is the CEO of Thought Expressions and holds an MBA from Imperial College, London. His books include the international bestseller Mastering Leadership The Mousetrap Way. and How to become the World Champion of Public Speaking. He speaks at international conferences, multinational companies, universities, and around the world. As a coach, Manoj has a proven track record in personal transformation and breakthroughs. CEOs, Senior Executives, UN Diplomats, Celebrities & Professionals from 34 nationalities have benefited from Manoj’s coaching. To contact the author’s team, click here.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com/in/manojthecoach/.
