4 Things to Do When Asking for a Promotion
“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,” said basketball coach John Wooden. That’s key for most of life, but even more so when you’re gearing up to ask for a promotion. Here are four things to do to help you secure that promotion.
Put your accomplishments in writing, along with concrete data that support them. Be sure to include metrics for concrete wins, noting a percentage increase or an absolute number demonstrating how your work met or surpassed goals. For instance, the marketing program you launched saw a 30% increase in new newsletter subscribers or social followers. Cut through the jargon and focus on the facts. The goal is to show your employer just how valuable your work is to the company—and remind yourself of it, too.
Create your key talking points. Ask yourself: Why do I deserve this? How have I added value? Come up with strong answers to both those questions ahead of time. You want to have three solid sound bites at the ready, and make sure you squeeze them into the conversation no matter what the interviewer asks. It can be about your wins, about why you want this promotion, or the added value you will provide to the company if you are promoted.
Have a positive mindset. During the meeting, keep your energy up and be aware of your tone. Own the room, take up space — you can even stand if it seems appropriate. Sometimes when I find my energy level getting low, I have to remind myself how important it is to show interest and enthusiasm!
Articulate a vision for your new role. Say something like, “Based on what I know, here’s where I think the biggest opportunities are.” Share how you would leverage your new role to create real value for the organization. It’s surprising how many employees don’t do this and instead simply focus on why they “deserve” the promotion.
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