Getting Promoted

Many men assume that working hard and doing good work will naturally lead to promotion. Sometimes it does. Often it doesn't. Organizations promote people who are both performing well and positioned well, who have demonstrated they can handle the next level, and whose contributions are visible to the right people. Hoping to be noticed isn't a strategy.

Getting promoted requires performing at your current level while demonstrating readiness for the next.

What Actually Gets Promoted

• Results: Consistent delivery on what matters most
• Visibility: The right people know your contributions
• Readiness: Already operating at the next level
• Relationships: People trust and want to work with you
• Fit: You align with where the organization is headed

Don't wait to be tapped on the shoulder. Make your aspirations known. Do the work of the next level before you have the title. Make it obvious that promoting you is the smart decision.

Positioning for Promotion

Know the criteria: What specifically does the next level require?

Close gaps: Develop skills or experience you're missing.

Build sponsors: Leaders who will advocate for you in the room.

Make it visible: Good work that no one sees doesn't count.

Ask directly: Have explicit conversations about advancement.

Your Action Steps

This week: Clarify what the next level requires in your organization.

This month: Identify and begin closing one gap between where you are and where you want to be.

This quarter: Have a direct conversation with your manager about your advancement path.