Don't Ask For Promotion; Go Take It

Our #TuesdayMotivation is inspired by a Nestle cup of coffee with the inscription: "Don't ask for promotion; go take it". We're guessing the next question that's probably popping up: "Really? Go take it? It isn't even my property". Paradoxical as it sounds, is one of the raisons d'etre of the workplace. Let's conceive 'promotion' as a juicy fruit hanging from the top of a tree, waiting to be plucked; there are other admirers - you're not alone in the game. However, what makes you a better suitor? Should you just throw stones like everyone else or devise a better way to aim?

 
        
    

We think that sometimes, directly asking for a promotion from your boss-especially when you’re not as efficient as the job demands- can be a little out of place or embarrassing. Other times, when you’re equal to the task, asking for a promotion can yet be pushy, especially when you’re stuck in between determining the ‘right time’. Okay, we’re not totally condemning the traditional method of demanding a promotion at the work place, especially when your input is super-fruitful. As a matter of fact, you should. Who, really, wouldn’t jump at the sight of a possible promotion? It’s one of the incentives for our hard work, isn’t it?

Anyway, here’s the gist: Rather than ask (the mundane way), there are better ways to communicate your interests through non-verbal cues. We’ve outlined two ‘simple’ follow-through steps to aid your comprehension:

            §  Stay on top of your game:

Sounds cliché, right? You probably hear this every now and then. Truth is: We do not need mediocre persons at the work place. The world is no place for mediocrity. There are opportunities to learn on the job to increase efficiency in work performance. We cannot stress the essence of staying relevant in what you do. You’re the Audit Manager? Do what you have to do. You shouldn’t bore your colleagues with your ineffectiveness. Research trends and best practices in your industry: Where are you lagging? What steps are there for improvement? What happened to versatility? What happened to knowing something about everything? No, this isn’t a ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ situation. The idea is being readily dependable when your colleagues (or even your boss) reach out to you. So now, are you a dependable colleague?

Think about this: If you were the boss and you had an inefficient or mediocre staff, would you still retain them, let alone consider a promotion? Remember, stay on top of your game, and if your boss has veins running through them, they may consider a promotion on your behalf.

            §  It isn’t just okay to just work hard, work smart too:

You’re the diligent staff who arrives early at work with a bright smile on your face, you’re an effective team player, you do what you have to do and mind your business, you reconcile the company’s accounts manually by entering the details in the log book, blah blah. Hold on a second; did we say you reconcile the company’s accounts manually? Funny as it may, we still have persons who hold conservative views, even in the work place! Of course, diligence and effective team play should not be marginalised in the workplace; not under any conditions.

Working smart is developing better and more efficient ways to get things done. Why spend so much on ‘A’ when you can spend less on ‘B’ and get the same results? Why waste so much time manually reconciling the company’s accounts when spreadsheets are a click away? We understand that you’re hardworking. However, doing the same thing the old way may not take you very far. Remember you’re not the only one who is eligible for a promotion. 

We thought we’d give some insights as you begin the journey into the new week. Of course, this isn’t all to do to ‘take’ a promotion. Remember our analogy of the ‘fruit’? What makes you a better ‘suitor’? ‘Extra’ is what makes ‘Extraordinary’ what it is.

Cheers!