Today's I would like to focus on a strategy that can help you achieve the most coveted professional goal in the corporate world: a promotion.
You can apply the same concepts if your goal this year is to ask for a raise while maintaining your current role.

Before we begin, I want to make a premise.

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." – Seneca

As Seneca reminds us, a promotion at work is not simply the result of luck, a new area being created, or a colleague resigning and leaving an interesting position.

A promotion in the corporate world is usually the result of years of commitment and a well-structured action plan, which allows you to be ready when opportunities arise.

I write "usually" because, unfortunately, we know that sometimes promotions are given to less deserving colleagues who are recommended. I hope you are working in an ethically and morally sound company, where merit and excellence are the true criteria for advancing in your career.

If not, decide consciously whether to stay and work to improve the situation, or to change to an organization that recognizes merit and values your potential! Don't delay!

Here are the main steps (with a final Pro-Tip) of the plan I used during my career, which allowed me to get promotions and various transfers abroad. It's the same plan I've shared in the past with my teams and now with my clients:

Define your vision, values, and long-term goals and the desired career/life style. This will help you quickly evaluate opportunities and make thoughtful decisions without the usual rush.
Study the decision-making processes and promotion procedures in your company. Boring, I know, but don't be caught unprepared!
Identify the Key Decision Makers and arrange informal meetings (coffee or lunch) to clarify your doubts about the decision-making process and show your initiative.
Consult your HR Manager to find out which promotions will be available in the coming months, and take advantage of informal meetings with the CEO and other leaders to gather more information.
Network to interact with colleagues and managers, showcase your work, the results you have achieved, and ask for feedback to improve. Always with humility!
Acquire the necessary skills to get the promotion and be up to the new responsibilities.
Prepare a succession plan, including alternative internal resources that could take over your role with the right training.
Pro-Tip: Ask for the promotion before the annual budget preparation to ensure your salary increase is considered. If you ask at the end of the year, it will be difficult to find the necessary funds to pay the new salary. Play ahead!

I will not cover these points in this Newsletter, but you can write to me (replying to this email) for more details.

Today I will focus on a question that few people ask their manager, but which can really make a difference for your promotion.
Here it is:

“What results do I need to achieve in the next [•] months to get the promotion to [•]?”

Fill in the [•] with the information at your disposal. As you know, specific and targeted questions are always appreciated by many executives (myself included) as they show that you know what you want and have clear ideas on how to achieve your goals.
This question may seem trivial, but it actually offers various advantages:

Clear Objectives for Promotion: You will know exactly what the company expects from you and what specific goals to achieve to get the new role.

Even if your company uses software for goals, share them via email with your manager and HR manager. You'll thank me at the end of the year 😉 (read more below)
Translate each expected result into an action plan to integrate into your work routine. If you participated in the Goal Accelerator Program, read note n. 1 below.

Alignment with Corporate Vision: Ensure your goals align with those of the company, contributing to its overall success. If not, consider whether to stay or change companies. Don't waste your talent.
Proactivity and Commitment: You will demonstrate proactivity, commitment, clarity of objectives, and a desire for growth, fundamental qualities for a leader.

But it doesn't end here.

During the following months
Not only will you strive to achieve the set goals, but I suggest adding a couple of extra goals (without overloading yourself) and noting the results achieved. For example, you could:

Create synergies with other areas improving company KPIs.
Promote sustainability projects in your area.
Participate as a speaker at international conferences, increasing the company's visibility.
Given all these results, you will exceed every expectation, making your promotion inevitable.

During the year-end performance review
On this occasion, you can show your manager that you have:

Achieved all the goals they indicated for you to get the promotion.
Achieved additional results, exceeding their expectations. Bring with you the email with the list of goals and all the supporting documents of the results obtained (dates, emails, reports, testimonials, etc.). Do not rely on memory or "my boss remembers": adopt an organized and structured approach. You are not grocery shopping, you are building your career!

Promotion or no promotion?
After the annual review, two scenarios will present themselves:

You get the promotion: Congratulations, you did a great job!
You don't get any promotion or raise: Congratulations anyway because you still did a great job and also gained valuable information for your future in the company. You might be disappointed, but stay professional and ask your manager and HR Manager the reasons for the decision. Check if:

The position is no longer available
There is no budget for the promotion
It's just a matter of time and how long you will have to wait
You can still get a salary increase
There are performance issues and what you didn't achieve Gather as much information as possible to decide rationally the next step:

Continue working in the same company, waiting for the promotion and repeating the plan described above; or
Look for other opportunities where your efforts are recognized and rewarded quickly and deservedly.

CONCLUSION

I hope this article has provided you with insights and useful suggestions to prepare your plan for asking for a promotion. Remember, in the corporate world, the famous "Hope Strategy" doesn't work: career advancements are achieved with a structured plan and targeted actions. If you're not willing to follow these steps, another colleague will do it in your place. The choice is yours.

Let me know if you have other strategies and/or tools that have been useful in your career to get a promotion. I always read and reply with pleasure to the numerous emails you send me!

Notes:

For those who have already done the Goal Accelerator Program, you can add these goals defined with your manager in one of the 3 Priority Activities of the Day and block time slots in your calendar to work on them with focus.

Do you want to get a promotion this year? Here is the strategic question you need to ask your manager.

BE EXECUTIVE

Do you want to get a promotion this year? Here is the strategic question you need to ask your manager.

The Mistake You Must Avoid When Working on Your Life and Career Goals

BE EXECUTIVE