5 Ways To Get A Promotion Without Actually Asking For It

By Lilian Wamaitha

Feeling vulnerable is not one of the things anyone enjoys. And just the same way, no one likes to ask for a promotion.

We want it handed to us because we are the best. We want our bosses to recognize our outstanding performance and actually give us the promotion.

The truth is that if you have a good boss who pays attention to the work you do, they will promote you without having to ask for it.

That said, here are five ways of getting a promotion without actually asking for it.

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1. Go above and Beyond your duties consistently

If you are looking to get promoted without asking for it, exceeding the expectations of your boss should be a good start.

Strive to add value through the work and projects you are responsible for and doing tasks that go beyond your call of duty. Find those things in the office that needs to be done but no one is willing to do them.

When you do this, your boss will notice you dedication and I can assure you that you will be in the list of those being considered for a promotion.

2. Be hungry for growth rather than status

The problem with most Kenyan professionals is that most of them are too much focused about rising in position even when they don’t grow in their career in anyway.

As a person looking for a promotion, this hunger should be based on growing your skills rather than your ego. Don’t fight for a new office or a higher title that will make you the envy of your colleagues.

Instead, better yourself by acquiring new skills and knowledge if you are looking to getting promoted. A rise in status without anything to show for it is only a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

3. Strive for continuous self-improvement

Think of your career as one of your biggest projects in life. Working on a project requires you to give it your all to get results you are proud of. Your career should be the same way.

As you continue growing in your career and reaching new levels of success, stop and pat yourself on the back and then strive to do the same thing but this time even better.

When you work for this level of success where you career is a continuous ladder of growth, you will not even have to ask for a promotion as your record will speak for you.

4. Find long term projects you can do

Basically tasks that take longer to complete are naturally complex. You will find that as you move up the career ladder, your job will become more intricate.

Getting the hang of managing complexity requires something more than being smart. It about being in a position to oversee a lot of tasks, create goals and be able to accomplish them.

Just keep in mind that as you strive for a promotion you want to stretch yourself up and not down. This means that if you are used to being given projects that can be completed in a month or so, don’t volunteer for a project that will take a whole year.

Instead, take baby steps, look for a project that can be completed in about four to six months.

When you have proven that you have what it takes to complete complex projects, you are literally showing your boss that you are ready to handle tasks at the next level.

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5. Work on your team work skills

Mid-level as well as high level jobs normally mean working in a team environment that depends generally on instructions being given to you and more on making things happen not through your rank but through collaboration.

Normally in such a setting, there is always that one person who makes things click. This is the person who has the powers to listen, mediate and compromise leading to achievement of results. Strive to be that person.

So when you find time, practice as much as you can your team work skills. The truth is that, giving all the instructions in a group setting does not mean that you get promoted.

What will get you that promotion is showing that you are a true team player – that you can actually add value by supporting your colleagues too.

In conclusion, it is not really the responsibility of your boss to help you land your dream job or grow in your career – that’s your job. When your boss sees these qualities in you though, they will want to help you achieve that career success which often translates into a promotion. There will be a time when you will need to have that awkward conversation with your boss about a need for promotion, but give these five strategies a try first and see how that work out.

The writer is a Communications & Digital Marketing Officer at Career Point Kenya. Got any career related queries? Email them to lilian@www.careerpointkenya.co.ke.