Let’s assume you are ready to be promoted. You have a portfolio brimming with your achievements. You are a solid candidate to advance to the next rung on your career ladder. However, you’re not confident about how to approach your manager to ask for this promotion. Plan this conversation as carefully as you plan for any critical conversation. Here are proven strategies that will maximize your success in getting what you want, need, and deserve.
Change your mindset. Stop thinking about your discomfort with bragging. Replace bragging with educating and teaching others about what you do. That small difference in the way you approach the ask will make you feel more confident and more authentic.
Clearly state the facts of your top three accomplishments. What exactly did you do? No embellishments, no exaggerations.
Be specific about what you want. Don’t make the mistake in assuming others know what you want, need, or deserve.
Marshall your evidence. Organize the justification for your request. Why are you deserving?
Devise a list of objections you may encounter. Plan how you will respond to each objection so that you don’t lose focus or your resolve.
Make your request with no demands, no strings attached, no ultimatums, no threats.
Acknowledge other’s contributions but always circle back to what you did.
Ask often. Here’s a true story:
Judith, an assistant professor, wanted to be promoted to associate professor. After several years of expanded responsibilities, Judith was more than deserving. Judith asked her department chairperson several times. Each time her request was denied but she didn’t give up. She made her appeal to the Dean who approved her promotion. Being persistent pays off. When asked, Judith said her relationship with her department chairperson as great. In fact, Judith said: “my department chair respects me for not giving up for something I believe in and what I deserve.”
