After a year of working as a human resources manager, I thought I was ready for a promotion to director level. Or, more specifically, I worried that continuing to take on tactical HR responsibilities that could be easily outsourced wasn't a good long-term career path. So my goal was to do more strategic HR work.
The only problem? I literally had no idea what that meant. So I signed up for a 12-month program alongside other HR professionals with the goal of finding out how we could bring more strategic thinking to our jobs.
After completing the course, I tried to prove how “strategic” I was, but it was an epic failure. I tried to help the sales team by offering our customers benefit options at a lower cost, which sounds like a good plan, right? Except I didn't think about the execution, and the change to our benefit plans angered some employees, including (unfortunately) our company president.
Soon I saw another opportunity to prove my strategic acumen. Our team's revenue had increased, so I suggested evaluating our culture and creating an employee value proposition. This time I got it right. Our company has been named one of the best places to work in your city for 10 years in a row.
Unfortunately, I still haven't gotten the position of human resources manager and I haven't gotten the promotion. of a year that I was looking for. It wasn't until a few years later that I realized what was really holding me back:I never asked for what I wanted. And because I didn't ask for what I wanted, when I was finally promoted to vice president – a higher role than I originally had in mind – I had to go through a period of difficult adjustment.
Achieving a new role is all about asking questions. Before you ask the big question, you need to ask yourself and your boss a series of smaller questions. I didn't know how to ask these questions when I was looking for a promotion. Now I help my employees ask them when they are ready to take on new responsibilities. Here are a few to get you started:
Related: 5 Ways to Pursue the Job You Want
Why do I want this job?
Although I should have had better communication with my boss, my biggest mistake was not to ask myself why I really wanted this role. At the time, all I saw was the shiny title and the security of a directorial role. Not exactly the right motivation.
Challenge yourself to list three reasons why the responsibilities of the new role are better than your current responsibilities. If you can't answer this question, you have some homework to do. How are you going to convince your boss that you're up for a promotion if you don't know why you want it yourself?
Because I never wondered why I wanted this job, I didn't know what what I had to do there that would allow me to excel, and it was a difficult adjustment when I was finally promoted to vice president. It took me a while to understand. Now, when employees ask me how to get a promotion, I tell them to start with this question.
Why am I not ready for this role?
Identify three skills or competencies you need to develop to be successful in the job you want. For each, find a way to escape your comfort zone. Beyond developing your skills, you will show that you can handle the discomfort of a new role with grace and confidence. was not a confident public speaker. I knew I would need to develop this skill before I could speak successfully in front of employees, customers and the community. At the time, I was a member of a local trade association and was approached by the board to consider becoming president. I accepted the offer, knowing that I would be speaking in front of hundreds of members on a monthly basis. It was nerve wracking, but it was also the training plan I needed.
Working in HR, I've met a lot of people who expect their company to form. Even if you're not ready for a promotion, creating your own opportunities for growth helps you stand out and show your boss you're ready to talk about it.
What are the skills that could help me? forgotten for a promotion?
All you have to do is identify your training plan. Ask your boss for help if you need it or talk to other leaders they built new skills and added value to the business.
After that, I ended up borrowing an idea – that of pairing HR with marketing – to create an employee engagement campaign that included a corporate culture video that is still used as part of our sales strategy. I found out where I needed to learn something new, and I went out and learned it.
When you ask this question, be prepared to hear anything, and most importantly, prove that you are ready to do the job. Highlight the homework you've already done to fill in the gaps you identified earlier. At this point, your boss should be engaged in the conversation, sharing their own suggestions, and willing to put a growth plan in place.
What does success look like in this role in the first year?
When that promotion opportunity comes around – hopefully, once you've progressed through your growth plan – it's time to ask your boss that question. Listen not only to the responsibilities of the role, but also the level of commitment needed to succeed.
Take time to ask yourself if you can meet the job requirements and if the position matches your idea of the balance of the life. If you're having this discussion, your boss probably sees that you're serious about skill development. Then you have to decide what you are willing to sacrifice. For example, you might learn that the role would require you to work weekends. If you are a parent, would you be willing to give up this time with your son or daughter?
My first year as VP would have been much easier if I had asked this question from the start. Now that I have a little more authority, I have implemented this idea into our performance management programs so that every newly hired or newly promoted employee can ask and know exactly what is expected of them. them.
Remember that your boss wants you in the right role as much as you do. Don't despair if you don't get the promotion. The perfect fit can take time, and your boss knows it. As long as they know what you want and how hard you're willing to work for it, they'll help you find it.
Related: 6 tips to make yourself promoteable
