Nine questions to ask to get that promotion

NEARLY one third of employees say they’ve been overlooked for promotion they deserved. Here are nine questions you need to ask.

Nine questions to get a promotion

WHILE employees might think they’re doing what it takes to get a promotion, many of them are having trouble seeing their hard work bear fruit, new research finds.

Employees believe that to earn a promotion it’s critical to perform at a high level, have a strong work ethic, show leadership skills and take on added responsibility, according to a study from the Jack Welch Management Institute.

Even though they think they’re doing all of this, nearly one-third of employees say they’ve been passed over for a promotion they felt they deserved.

“Although today’s professionals can identify what they need to do to earn a promotion, they don’t have enough information about how to do it,” Andrea Backman, dean of the Jack Welch Management Institute, said in a statement.

“This missing link creates a huge opportunity for those employees who commit to their career with energy, intellectual curiosity and a drive to succeed versus those who do not.”

Workers who haven’t gotten the promotion they were aiming for need to take time to both self-reflect on their job expectations and delivery and have candid conversations with those they work for and with about their performance and the skills needed to move up the ladder, Backman said.

Among the questions she encourages employees to ask themselves, their bosses and co-workers include:

• Where have I underdelivered and overdelivered on my job recently?

• Have I expanded my assigned responsibilities beyond what was expected of me?

• What agenda do I own, and how does my agenda contribute to the organisation’s larger goals?

• Do I look for ways to assist and grow my colleagues or team, and how?

• Are there things I can do to work better, smarter or faster?

• How am I demonstrating the breadth and depth of my business knowledge to my organisation?

• What skills am I lacking and what short- and long-term steps can I take to develop them?

• Am I hungry to learn more about everything to ensure I stay out in front of what is happening in my business, my industry, my country, the world?

• Am I growing every day as an individual and as an employee?

After getting these questions answered, employees need to use the information to create and execute a plan of action, according to Backman.

“If you don’t approach your career with energy, guts, determination and urgency, then a promotion is not likely in your future,” she said.

Even those who haven’t been passed over for a promotion may still find value from this type of career assessment.

“Everyone can benefit from identifying areas of improvement and pursuing feedback and solutions regularly,” Backman said.

The study was based on surveys of 1,795 U.S. adults, including 1,198 respondents who work for a professional or corporate organisation.

This article originally appeared on BusinessNewsDaily.