A mere 7% of the employee population received job promotions in 2010, reports the global human resources association WorldAtWork in its Promotional Guidelines survey. According to the latest Work and Education Gallup poll, 26% of employees surveyed are dissatisfied with their chances for receiving a job promotion.
“In the wake of massive layoffs, pay cuts, pay freezes, and corporate restructuring, no one is handing out promotions. Anything you get will be because you took the responsibility to make it happen,†says Patty Azzarello, CEO of the management consulting firm Azzarello Group and author of RISE: 3 Practical Steps for Advancing Your Career, Standing Out as a Leader, and Liking Your Life (Ten Speed Press; $15.99).
But simply delivering good work won’t be enough, she warns: “Professionals will have to do more, be more, and look better to move up in their organizations.†The former vice president and general manager of HP OpenView at Hewlett-Packard contends that employees with the greatest career mobility are those who manage several factors connected to work, but extend beyond any particular job, such as adding value to the business, and winning the attention and trust of senior managers. Here are her four strategies for moving your career forward:
Be less busy. “Successful people don’t do everything,†says Azzarello, explaining that employees entirely consumed with the non-impactful aspects of their current job don’t have time or energy to do the things necessary to get a bigger or better one. Do less of the work that duplicates what your team does–it’s not your job anymore–and delegate more so you can focus on higher-value work, she suggests. Select two or three tasks that will yield the greatest business
outcomes and make them “ruthless priorities.†Focus on completing these critical tasks above all else. Implement processes and procedures to automate or delegate less critical tasks so you don’t put the ruthless priorities at risk.(Continued on next page)
Be visible. “Being invisible is tantamount to being stuck,†states Azzarello. “No one is going to believe in you, support, or follow you if they don’t know who you are.†Identify your stakeholders and influencers. Create a communication plan that outlines a strategy of where, when, and how to connect with them. Bolster your visibility and support by developing stronger relationships with employees at lower levels in the organization as well. Solicit their opinions and participation. Work at strengthening weak connections. Tap former co-workers, industry contacts, and alma mater alumni for leads, introductions, referrals, and recommendations to new connections, adds Teressa Moore Griffin, executive coach and author of LIES That Limit: Uncover the Truth of Who You Really Are
(SoulWorks Publishing L.L.C.; $19.95): The higher a position is in an organization, the more credibility and support it requires to get the job, and perform effectively and successfully.Show leadership potential. “Each time you step up to a bigger job, what it means to be good at your job changes,†asserts Azzarello. In entry-level positions, the job is to do the assigned work, and value is directly tied to time put in and individual output. In higher-level positions, however, the job is to improve on the work and value is based on the collective outcomes you help to create, she explains. “Show that you can be more than a subject matter expert,†she states. Demonstrate vision, teamwork, motivation, and innovative thinking. Rather than simply working in the business, work on the business by performing tasks that improve communication and reduce costs or generate revenues.
Get the experience beforehand. Take charge of your professional development. Offer to attend meetings with your boss or on behalf of your boss when possible. Pursue opportunities in areas that will broaden your skill set. Observe those currently in the position you want. Take note of their demeanor, communication skills, interactions with others, and how they affect the company business. Leverage their insights and learn from their experiences. Get actual experience with opportunities outside work as well, such as volunteering on a nonprofit board, serving in local government, or spearheading a charitable cause. “Although multiple factors exist,†Azzarello insists, “it’s primarily what we choose to do on purpose in our career that affects our promotability the most.â€