It's frustrating to see others get promoted when you feel you're more talented and hardworking. While it's easy to believe that promotions are solely based on skill and effort, the truth is that advancement is more about perceived influence than your individual abilities.
Promotions often go to those who are seen as steering the company toward positive outcomes. Here are nine ways to build that influence and finally get noticed.
Build Your Influence and Get the Promotion
Build relationships with overlooked support staff. People in administrative and support roles are often the keepers of valuable company knowledge. Befriending them can give you a deeper understanding of how the organization works.
Keep a "solution bank" of past problems. Documenting how you've solved issues makes you the go-to person when similar problems pop up. You become the person with the answers, which makes you incredibly valuable.
Amplify others' voices. When you see a colleague get cut off or ignored in a meeting, redirect the conversation back to them. By doing this, you earn their trust and build a reputation as a supportive team player.
Become the bridge between departments. Acting as a translator between different teams with different priorities shows you understand the big picture. This positions you as a critical player who can connect different parts of the company.
Master the art of asking better questions. Instead of focusing on deadlines, ask questions like, "What would success look like here?" This shows you're focused on outcomes and strategy, not just tasks.
Learn how to use data in conversations. One solid, data-backed point is more powerful than ten opinions. Become fluent in your company's key metrics to make your arguments more persuasive.
Perfect the "diagonal meeting move." Connect a colleague's idea to something a senior leader recently said. This shows you're listening and thinking about how your work aligns with the company's broader goals.
Create clear, concise project updates. Keep your updates to 30 seconds: "We're at X, we're heading to Y, and we need Z." This clarity makes you everyone's favorite because they know exactly where things stand.
Use "pre-mortem" thinking. Before a project launches, ask yourself, "How could this fail?" This proactive approach helps you spot and prevent problems that others might miss, showing you're a forward-thinking problem-solver.
Remember, influence isn't about your job title; it's about consistently guiding outcomes in a positive direction.