Quick Tip – If You Don't Ask…

You may never receive – Issue #88

When I was younger, I was passive about my career. I worked hard, hoped it would be noticed, and waited to get raises and promotions.

That’s how it works, right? Your boss notices how great you are and rewards you.

Not really.

Ok, sometimes it does work that way. But that won’t last forever. It certainly doesn’t work that way as you move up into more competitive senior roles.

Being passive about your career progress won’t do you any favors. Bosses are busy and don’t always notice how hard you are working.

They also assume that you must be happy in your work if you’re quiet.

The squeaky wheel doesn’t always get the grease — especially if the wheel is annoying and not doing that great of a job being a wheel. However, the quiet wheel is assumed to be just fine doing what it does.

Ok, enough of the wheel metaphor.

Know what you want, and don’t be shy about sharing your ambition with your manager. If you know that you’re already performing at the level above you, ask for that promotion. If you’re uncertain, ask what it will take to be at that level and deserve that promotion.

One of the most significant advances in my career was the result of asking for what I wanted. Also, I didn’t just “ask.” I wrote a proposal that demonstrated how my promotion would benefit the company, how I would structure my organization, and my strategic plans for our products.

If I had waited to be recognized and moved into the role I wanted, it never would have happened. I’m sure of that. Someone else would have been placed in that role, and I would have been miserable.

Create a plan for what you want and ask for what you deserve. Otherwise, you may never receive it.