Insights into what could be holding you back and how to go forward.
Throughout your career, you will see people promoted around you and wonder "why not me?" or you asked for a promotion and received a vague answer. Perhaps, you've been in a role for many years and assumed you would move up by now yet nothing is changing. None of those situations feel good. Let's explore some reasons you may not be getting promoted and what to do about it.
The tough stuff: to quote Taylor Swift, "it's me, hi, I'm the problem it's me"
Yes, there's a chance you're not performing the way you think you are and are lacking self awareness. If you have found yourself constantly overlooked yet think you work better than everyone else, blame others when you can't keep on top of your responsibilities, consistently find the negative, gossip, talk over others, don't listen, are inconsistent, dismiss contributions, refuse to engage in team collaboration, argue or stonewall people around you because they're not as smart as you and see no room for growth or gaps in your efforts...well, you're probably costing yourself a promotion due to a fixed mindset. If you find yourself complaining or belittling others rather then focusing on your growth and reflecting on what you can do better - you're not promotable.
Sometimes, we need professional guidance to help check assumptions and expectations and benefit from working with an objective expert. We hope you keep finding ways, and supports, to round out your perspectives so you can find fulfilment in your career & colleagues.
We also recognize that sometimes it really isn't your fault and the organization is really bringing out the worst in you and you need to move on. If your workplace is toxic, don't delay job hunting - it rarely, if ever, gets better.
Unclear asks for progression: are you clear on why you want a promotion and how it will add value to an organization? It's surprising how many people want a promotion without being clear why and to what effect the promotion will serve an organization.
Define if what you need in you career is a title change or a change in scope and type of work - if you can't change your title, you can ask to work on stretch assignments to help you keep progressing and potentially land in a new role that reflects your growth.
Keep tabs on the industry standard rate for your role and if you have examples of where you're underpaid, these can help build the case (Glassdoor, Indeed, LinkedIn etc.) - ask for the band range of your role too, incremental increases go along way in helping you move to the next level.
If you're happy with what you're doing and the life it affords you, there's nothing wrong with 'good enough for now' and enjoying your work and enjoying your life outside work. Comparing your progress by promotions can create arbitrary pressure, there's nothing wrong with being satisfied with your contributions.
The lazy boss: there are bosses who don't want to do the legwork to make a case to promote you. Unfortunately, they don't invest in your progression and can be insecure about someone taking their job. Try and move out from someone like this as fast as possible and keep track of times and efforts you have made to be promoted or asked for career development based on relevant and detailed examples and valuable contributions.
Ask for detailed feedback of how to achieve the next level of your career, ask for a professional development plan (better yet if you create one and ask for support) and specify timelines and expectations with your boss. If they refuse or dodge the ask, you have every right to raise your concern with their boss and/or HR.
If you are a subject matter expert and your workplace would struggle to lose your institutional knowledge thus they keep you where you are, don't be afraid to start negotiating for increased vacation, professional development budget and other overall compensation measures that would help you feel valued and appreciated.
Staying too long & external competition:
Sometimes you stay too long in a role and can reach a competency inertia - you stop learning, you stop being exposed to new ideas and you limit the breadth of experience. Not only that but you may not be as employable elsewhere given your limited exposure to other organizational cultures and competencies. When you have stayed at a role for a long time, there can be more talented, experienced and educated people who may be a better fit for a more senior role or promotion opportunity. This is appealing to an organization to want to bring new perspectives, skills and networks into the workplace.
Keep tabs on what professional development and networking options will help you stay ahead of knowledge-gathering and updates in your line of work. Keep building a robust community or practice (meaning talking to people who do similar work in other sectors).
PG takeaway: promotions can serve as an important career index showing progression, skills and leadership (of self and others). Yet, it's not the only way to find career satisfaction. Get crystal clear on what your professional value is, define what a fulfilling career looks like and do some online searching and check with your network because if you're not being fairly recognized for your amazing self then it's time to move out and up!
You got this.