Preparing for the Promotion That You Deserve

Increasing research is showing just how often women — especially BIPOC women — are not promoted up the corporate ladder as much as men. This “broken rung” can be the result of many factors, which can include bias (whether unconscious or not) in the hiring and promotion process. 

Having witnessed or directly faced this inequality in their careers, many women can over-invest in education, professional development and more in an attempt to feel qualified for the positions they seek to ascend into. Many women won’t even consider applying for an opportunity without meeting most or all of the qualification criteria for the role. This emphasis on having the right qualifications is misplaced. It’s more often confidence that leads to more men being hired in upper level positions.

Meanwhile, many employers are seeking to diversify their teams and leadership by removing systemic barriers. These larger organizational changes can work well in tandem with individual women ending the practice of self-rejection and overinvestment. It’s time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable and aim to be qualified, rather than overqualified, for the promotions we deserve while being our own best advocates for ourselves. Here are some ways you can do it:

Chart your journey

Make time to self reflect and get a clear picture of the path ahead. Where are you now? Where do you want to be? Reach out to a colleague, a mentor, or career coach you trust to get an objective opinion. Find out what skills and qualifications others have in this role. What are the minimal skills and qualifications needed for this role? Then it’s time for a gut check to assess your current skills and qualifications and design the clearest path to where you want to go. From there, set some real goals for yourself and define what your next career step is and the key objective to obtaining it. Once you have the journey mapped it will be much easier to weigh your options against it and know what you have to act on. 

Prepare to promote yourself

Women are less-inclined to use self-promotion to help accelerate their careers, which can do us a disservice when competing for the next step in our careers. A common reason: a worry about sounding boastful or arrogant. But, with intention and practice, we can strike the right tone: being clear and fair about the value we contribute without being self-defeating, diminishing or second-guessing ourselves. 

Prep your business case

To be able to self-promote effectively, you need to be prepared to shine the light on the value you deliver when the opportunities present themselves! Think about your career — what moments are most integral to the position you’re seeking? List those moments and include important details such as what happened, how you solved the challenges and what the results were. Review the list prior to conversations you’re having with key decision makers.

Do your research

We have more market data about compensation available to us than ever before. While not all data is created equal, what is available publicly can provide a starting point for understanding the compensation associated with the role you’re seeking. It’s also way less taboo now to ask friends and colleagues about their roles and salaries. Be thoughtful in your data interpretations and reflect on the various elements to consider such as experience levels, skills and more. Being informed will help you shape the logistics around your promotion and will leave you better off than going in empty-handed.

Practice your business case (with confidence!)

If the idea of self-promotion makes you feel a bit panicky, you’re not alone. Confidence isn’t the most “natural” feeling for most and that’s okay. Focus on building up your confidence over time — rather than faking it ‘til you make it. You can also test drive promoting yourself with a willing and supportive partner, friend or a coach to get used to how it feels and sounds so that you’re more confident when it’s time for the real thing. Check out my article on unlocking your voice for more ideas on empowering yourself to present your best self. 

While it will be some time before the broken rung(s) are fully repaired and everyone is playing on a level playing field, these strategies will help you set yourself up for promotability success with you in control of the single variable that you can control — you!