"I really wanted this promotion. All my quarterly appraisals show that I've been performing in the top 20 per cent of the organisation and I have a great working relationship with my team members. There's no reason why I should have been passed over," my friend was in tears as she narrated how devastated she was when the promotion she wanted was given to someone else in her department.
This was almost eight years ago, and we commiserated, all remembering times in our careers when we did not get a role or project that we had thought we were perfect for. About a month later, after the heartbreak was less painful a member of our group suggested to her that she engages her boss as to why the management team may have felt she was not a good candidate for the position.
Ask for what you want
The feedback she got was completely surprising at the time. The main reason was that her boss was not aware that she was interested in the position as she had never expressed any intention to get into a leadership role.
It is not uncommon for women to engage the tactics that got them ahead in school in the workplace. Keep your head down, work hard and your grades will speak for themselves. This could not be farther from the truth in your career. By all means, do good work. But that is only half the story.
If you are interested in a promotion or in a role that gives you more responsibility, then you have to ask for it. If walking into your boss's office and saying you want something makes you uncomfortable, raise this as you work on your professional development goals whether during a quarterly appraisal or other structured discussion.
Then if a project you are interested in or position comes up you can say, "At the last appraisal I expressed an interest in 'x' role. I feel that involvement in this project will bring me closer to that goal and allow me to build these skills."
Remember, it is unlikely that your boss will remember everyone's goals especially if the team s/he is leading is a large one and it is your responsibility to ensure your career is growing according to your goals.
Visibility
Say you want to lead a team. This will put you in a position where you are interacting with key stakeholders in the organisation. The first time they hear of you should not be when you are vying for a promotion - you need to have built up a relationship so that they have confidence that you are the right person for the role.
This requires being strategic and visible. You can achieve this in a couple of different ways including being involved in projects that put you in a position where you show different skills, making presentations to the organisation, sharing insights regarding a particularly pesky problem the firm is facing etc. There are not many people who have the courage to do what it takes to get them noticed by top level management so you will definitely stand out, and in the process make your boss look good too.
TIPS
- Articulate what you want - ask for the promotion or for the project - and continuously look out for ways of developing your career in the direction you want. Remember that your career is your sole responsibility.
- Seek roles and projects that are going to make you visible and get you out of your comfort zone.
This is what taking risks is all about