Whether you’re in the midst of your mid-year review or are independently considering your next career move, August is the perfect month to reflect on your promotion goals and put a plan into action. The 4th quarter will be here before we know it and January is the month in which the highest percentage of promotions are awarded, according to data analyzed by LinkedIn Corp.
If you’re a planner (and I’m pretty sure you are 😉), use this seven-point checklist to self-assess your promotion readiness.
1. You have ideas that exceed the scope of your current role.
If you often find yourself coming up with ideas that extend beyond your current department or role, you are demonstrating signs that your mind is ready for more.
2. You have no trouble endorsing your colleagues.
Touting another’s success and celebrating someone else’s accomplishment is indicative that you are centered in your strengths and know your worth. You view your teammates as collaborators, not competitors. You know you offer something they don’t.
3. You find yourself naturally reading articles that relate to your industry or discipline.
Nerd-Alert or Promotion-Predicter? It’s a sign of BOTH! Genuine interest in your craft enhances career advancement. Keep learning from white papers, the Science and Technology e-newsletter, and industry-specific conversations you have with seasoned colleagues.
4. You are restless/bored in your current role.
Can you do it in your sleep or are you often left uninspired? As long as you’re still interested in the overall company mission or industry subject matter, then, you are clearly ready for more!
5. You have a network inside your organization with key players.
This is a big one. You have several of the aforementioned “seasoned industry colleagues” in your professional social sphere. If you send a text to one in the morning, you’ll have a response by this afternoon. The higher up in your career you go, the more relationship-influenced it is. If you haven’t already cultivated these relationships, today is the perfect day to start.
6. You had a positive annual review.
Your review was mostly outstanding, sprinkled with a few opportunities for improvement. The named opportunities for improvement are a measured way to display your ability to learn and improve. If, however, your review was mostly underwhelming, sprinkled with many opportunities for improvement, it will likely require extra work before a promotion opportunity is feasible.
7. You are excited about the possibility of stepping out of your comfort zone and learning new skills.
Are you catalyzed by the idea of transitioning from being a big fish in a small pond to small fish in a big pond? If so, then get your gills ready! If the idea of stepping out of your cozy, comfortable zone into a land with new challenges, excites you, then now is the perfect time to begin assembling a road map that leads to your next destination.
If you answered YES to the majority of these questions, you are showing signs of promotion readiness! Start assembling your road map now to reach your destination faster.
For additional resources and support, send an email to [email protected] with ‘Promo’ in the subject line.
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