In order to grab that promotion, you need to show that you have what it takes. So, beat your procrastination habits and upskill your game to take the next step in your career.
Here are a few things you should work on:
Show leadership qualities
It’s easier said than done, but leadership often starts with the right attitude. This is not only noticeable in the way you interact with others, but also in how to think about yourself. If you don’t take yourself (and your work) seriously, why should anyone else? Carry yourself with dignity and gratitude, while recognising the work of others.
Besides treating your colleagues and their problems with the utmost respect, you also need to stand by your word, as no one wants to promote someone who doesn’t convert promises into actions.
Manage expectations
Connecting to the point made above, it’s important to follow through with the things one said would do. Regardless of one’s workload, it’s crucial to set the right expectations. As success is always dependent on teamwork, you should ensure that no one in your team is missing their deadlines because you over-promised but could not deliver.
When it comes to setting expectations, you need to have a clear overview of your own projects. You have to keep in mind that a reliable employee is the one meeting expectations and deadlines, not the one trying to achieve everything. So, be realistic and meet your own deadlines – don’t pretend to be the overachiever.
Learn to prioritise
With a constant stream of emails, messages, and projects flooding our inboxes, there is hardly any downtime. This isn’t going to change when you move up the career ladder. So, why should you be promoted if you are already unable to juggle your tasks?
Start the year right and learn how to manage your workload. There are many ways to set priorities, such as sorting your tasks by deadline or importance. No matter how you are going to do it, you need to find a system that works for you. However, the most important part of organising your priorities is to have a complete overview of your workload at any given time.
Take ownership
One of the main reasons for getting a promotion is ownership. As companies need to be able to trust their employees to handle their tasks, taking ownership of projects and their outcome signals maturity to the upper management. Remember that nobody has time for micromanagement.
As opportunities don’t always come knocking on your doorstep, it’s important to create your own. Find (or create) a project that highlights your skills and takes charge. Be clear about what you want to achieve and how this project helps the business – then plan and execute. However, taking ownership doesn’t necessarily mean taking credit. Don’t put yourself in the center of the effort, as no one likes colleagues who show-off. Highlight the work of your team instead, as the results will speak for themselves.
