Create your own path to promotion

By Fred Ouma

IF you are tired of witnessing other workers advance their careers as you continue to exceed all expectations without getting a promotion, don’t despair. Successful workers create their own paths to promotions and do not rely on luck.

You cannot continue waiting for others to decide when you should be offered a promotion. Even if you are not ready to make a job or career change, career experts say you will benefit from knowing how to put into action a successful self-promotion plan.

Unfortunately, if no one knows how much you contribute to the company, you will continue missing the next great promotion opportunity. Letting people know that you are interested in advancing your career is the first step in an effective self-promotion plan.

You can simply tell your immediate supervisor or a representative from your human resource department, but remember the old adage “you cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in the pocket.” The adage means actions speak louder than words and there are a number of tactics you can adopt.

One technique is to single out an unresolved challenge in your company or organisation.

Patrick Okee of Real Surveys, a workplace research firm, says you should choose a situation that will benefit from your experience and skills.

“Write a memo that outlines the need you have discovered,” he says.
“Highlight how you will use your skills to resolve the problem and contribute to the immediate objectives of the team or department.”

After that, send a memo to the person who will benefit most from your unique approach. For example, your boss or a representative from the human resource office.

Don’t wait for your company or organisation to discover the same need. By waiting, Sarah Namirembe of Mengo-based Career Services, says you increase chances of giving the position to another person.

“Without your proactive approach to your career and potential promotion, they may decide to promote one of your peers,” she says.

“By being proactive, you create a win-win situation. You may gain a challenging, enjoyable career opportunity and eliminate the need for competition.”

Even if a new career or promotion opportunity does not result from your actions, Silvia Nandera of The Point, a human resource firm, says you will have successfully created an opportunity to demonstrate your value to the organisation. “You have increased the likelihood of being considered for the next rewarding career or promotion opportunity.”

Volunteering is another way of promoting your career and demonstrating your value while expanding your knowledge in critical areas of the company.

Okee says volunteering also earns you a reputation for being reliable, professional and cooperative, hence worthy of promotion.

While you are volunteering, you may discover a need that you have the skills and experience to resolve. A great advantage in this situation is that by being involved, you know the right person to contact. It may even be the person you are working with.

“The more you know about yourself, the more you will communicate about your value to the right people at the right time to promote your career,” reasons Okee.

The trick, he suggests, is to record everything you do to enhance the company’s bottom line.

Start by dividing a blank sheet of paper into three columns with three separate headings: action, result of action, and impact of action. Never lose this precious paper.

Your key accomplishments are probably actions that you take for granted. For example, if you are responsible for accounts payable, in column one write paying invoices. In column two write the result of this action.

For example, paid on time – no interest payments. In the third column write the impact of this action. For example, a decrease in the cost of production. Did you think of this action as related to decreasing the costs or did you think of it as doing part of your job? How do you think others view this action?

Performance development meetings provide the perfect opportunity to showcase your accomplishments for promotion. So take advantage of them.
By being proactive and creating opportunities, you improve the likelihood of gaining the attention of your employer and the promotion you deserve.

So if you have what it takes as Anatoli Kamugisha of Akright puts it: “Believe, begin and become – what you want to be.”