Getting promoted is no easy feat. It usually requires good planning, hard work, and a bit of luck. And even then, success is not guaranteed. Sometimes it is also due to the behavior of an employee that he is never promoted.
Business Insider spoke to three career experts on how you can improve your chances of getting promoted. In addition, the experts reveal which behavioral patterns you should discard if you want to advance professionally.
1. Silence
A career coach and author Octavia Goredema believes that waiting for your boss to recognize your hard work will not get you very far. Instead, you should rather become active yourself. "If you want a promotion, you should talk to your manager early on about who decides when is the right time and what requirements you have to meet for the desired position," says Goredema. According to the career coach, it is also helpful to communicate your successes regularly and to make your achievements visible.
2. Acting like a know-it-all
While you should be open about why you deserve a promotion, you don't want to come across as arrogant. According to Ralf Specht, an expert on corporate culture, an “I know everything better” attitude is unlikely to get you a promotion. "Your boss won't recommend you for a promotion if you have a reputation for being a smart-ass know-it-all," he says. Especially not if you cannot follow up your alleged knowledge with actions.
3. Make assumptions
It's also important that you don't just make assumptions about how far along you are in your professional development, says Goredema. Sometimes you might think you deserve a promotion, but your manager doesn't see it that way. "If your manager doesn't feel a promotion is justified, you should find out what the problem is - and how you could solve it," she says. Because many are of the opinion that they should be promoted. Whether they are also suitable for this is a completely different question.
But how do you know if your manager thinks you're ready for a promotion? According to Goredema, it's a good sign if your supervisor speaks to you about growth opportunities or promotion.
4. Be defensive
Specht says anyone who likes to play the victim role is doing themselves a disservice. Because promotions are associated with more responsibility. So no one would promote someone who consistently shirks their responsibilities.
"It doesn't mean that you have to put up with everything and always say 'yes' – on the contrary," he says. "If you have a specific opinion on a situation that may differ from the current opinion in the office, then make sure that this is also heard," says Specht.
5. Avoid discomfort
Of course, it's easier to always do what you know and are good at. But you probably won't get promoted with it. According to James Reed, who runs the UK recruitment site Reed.co.uk, it's better to look for an area of your business that is constantly changing. It is better to be a less experienced manager in an area that is developing quickly than a professional in a sector that is declining. You don't have to be the best. But those who dare to swim in the fast-flowing current will usually get further than those who simply let themselves fall into the whirlpool.
This text was translated from English by Mascha Wolf. You can find the original here .