Why Your Less Experienced Coworker Got Promoted Over You
READ TIME - 4 MINUTES
We've all been there—seeing inexperienced colleagues get promoted while we’re left wondering why.
Is it an unfair game, or is there something we’re not seeing?
I used to think it was unfair and that the company culture was flawed until I realized I had the wrong idea about promotions.
Most of us believe that promotion is the result of long hours, hard work, and becoming experts at what we do.
But unfortunately, that’s not how it works.
In this newsletter, I’ll share the reasons why inexperienced people get promoted, and you don’t.
This will help you understand what matters at work so you can adjust your strategies for your next promotion.
Here’s what people who get promoted do well:
Reason 1: They Focus on the Right Results
Yes, you heard me, the right results.
They find out what their executives focus on and do just that, while others on the team focus only on expected results.
Doing the job really well is not enough to get noticed and win the leadership’s heart.
You need to dig into what is truly wanted and focus on that.
Nothing is better than making your boss and their bosses look great.
Fifteen years ago, my executives wanted to run a closed-loop process for CSAT.
It was an initiative that our CEO asked all his direct reports to prioritize.
When they rolled it out, I was the first manager to get my team to perform so well that my name was brought up in executive meetings from day one.
The rest is history. Every executive called me during that initiative because I made them all look great.
Reason 2: They Build the Right Perception and Branding
Their actions, how they tell their stories, and how they present themselves in meetings and projects—all of these elements contribute to the right perception and branding.
They build a brand that goes beyond just doing the job. They focus on managing the three Ps: people, processes, and performance.
They consistently communicate their wins and accomplishments to reinforce the perception they are building.
Building the right perception will attract the leadership team because you will help leaders see themselves in you as they were in their younger days.
How many times have you spoken to senior management and heard them say that you remind them of their younger selves?
Always remember that the people above you are human, and when you help them connect with you, they will advocate more for you.
The strong perception and brand you build will help you connect faster with everyone above you.
Reason 3: They Communicate with Confidence
They are the ones who can articulate, describe, and tell stories with confidence.
Leadership likes individuals who can speak with confidence.
If you look around, you’ll notice one common characteristic among all senior managers: they all have strong communication skills and speak with confidence.
If I had to pick one thing that will help you advance your career, it would be this.
At the end of the day, what gets you promoted is not just excelling at your current job but demonstrating what you can do if given the opportunity.
So next time someone tells you to work hard and put in the hours, remember this post.
It’s all about how you carry yourself, what your personal brand says about you, and whether you can speak with confidence.
Nail these three things, and see how fast people tap you on the shoulder.