If You Read one article about Promotion, Read This One.
“Work hard in silence. Let success make the noise.” — Anonymous.
Everyone wants a promotion in their jobs. You and I are not an exception too. But everyone never succeeds.
Many work hard. Many show dedication. Some people work overtime. Some even literally bring offices to their home. Such people think doing such activities makes them fit for a promotion. But when results of promotions come out, they don’t secure their positions in merit lists. They feel ill-will.
Why do such hardworking or dedicated employees not get promoted?
Reasons are many. Let me share a story here to explore some such reasons.
I received a phone call from one of my friends yesterday. He was a banker in the Senior Management category.
He said, “I have applied for the inter-scale promotion. Please help me to prepare for the written test, Group Discussions and personal interview.”
I said, “That is great. I will certainly help you. But do not mind my asking for one thing. Have you done your SMS Analysis?”
He asked, “What is it?”
I asked, “Why do you apply for a promotion?”
He chuckled and said, “Everyone does. What is new to it?”
I said, “That’s why I recommend doing SMS Analysis. A successful promotion depends on you. Please don’t go for promotion because of peer pressure or because everyone does so. Remember, it must be your conscious choice.”
He interrupted and said, “Please elaborate on your point.”
I said, “Before going further, let me share with you more about the SMS Analysis.”
Here goes the gist of that conversation on the SMS analysis. It will give you clarity on promotion.
What is SMS Analysis? Why is it important to succeed in job promotion?
SMS Analysis stands for Skills, Mindset and Situation Analysis.
Before applying for a job promotion, you must explore these three core areas — skills, mindset, and situations. They will guarantee your sure, successful and productive promotion.
#1. Skills Set:
Your promotion elevates you to the next higher scale. It also brings higher responsibility. Higher responsibility requires more skills. You must be aware of the skills which are essential to handle your new position. If you lack any advance skills, you must learn them. If you have to improve your earlier skills, you must practice them too. You must master all the required skills for your new position.
Michael Martin Hammer said, “A successful career will no longer be about promotion. It will be about mastery.”
Skills are specific to your work. But some skill-sets are such that are basic and indispensable.
The following five most essential set of skills are crucial for your new role:
(i) Communication:-
Communication is the most useful skill. It involves both writing and speaking skills. You write several emails, letters and applications. You communicate with your clients, colleges and boss.
You often engage in public speaking, negotiations, holding productive customer meetings, review meetings, and budget meetings. Their successful execution depends on communication skills. If you are not a persuasive and effective communicator, you cannot get the right clients. The result, you cannot increase the total business volume.
Effective communication helps to build teams, and you get a competitive edge. You can express your potential before your boss and customers. I recommend developing communication skills.
(ii) Integrity:
It measures your trust level and honesty. It enhances your inner values and productivity. If you are a person with doubtful integrity, you will never thrive in your career.
(iii) Creativity:
You always involve yourself in taking decisions at the workplace. You do multitasking. What you need to excel in everything is your creativity. Creativity increases your efficiency and reduces stressful work situations. It helps you to shoulder higher responsibility.
(iv) Positivity:
When you interact with several people, they influence you one way or another way. Remember, negativity impacts more. You need to learn the skill of positivity. It will help you find solutions to problems.
(v) Teamwork:
Even a sole proprietorship firm requires collaboration. It is not I, but we that grow any organization. Employees at different levels, clients and other third party entities together bring good luck for your organization. Hence, you must be an expert at team building.
#2. Mindset:
A mindset refers to your belief system. What you believe determines your course of action and outcomes.
There are two different mindsets:
Fixed mindset: Your inborn, fixed, and unchangeable beliefs represent your fixed mindset.
Growth mindset: Your belief that you can learn; change, develop and improve represent your growth Mindset.
You must develop a promotional mindset. I mean you prepare for promotion in advance. You learn new skills and strengthen old skills required for the promotion.
With a growth mindset, you can adapt to a dynamic work environment and you can also realize your fixed mindset. That self-awareness builds confidence to prepare and succeed in your career.
Henry Latham Doherty said, “Plenty of men can do outstanding work for a spurt and with an immediate promotion in mind, but for a promotion, you want a man in whom excellent work has become a habit.”
Working on your mindset will build progress as a habit.
#3. Situations:
You are not solely an employee. Your job or career is what you love to do for your livelihood. Several circumstances and life situations surround you. Your members of a family, friends, neighbors and your personal goals and hobbies also need your attention. You cannot ignore them. After all, they make up your support system.
Before aspiring for promotion, audit your life situations. Analyze the impacts of getting promotions in your personal and social life. Will your ambition and passion damage your relationship or your personal life?
You can likewise do SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) analysis.
P. T. Barnum said, “Without promotion, something terrible happens… nothing!”
Getting a promotion is not everything in your life. Remember, it is one point of your career. It is not a reward for your professional excellence. It shows your professional usefulness. Hence, it should be your choice.
I am not against promotion. I recommend you build a sound foundation so you can do well in personal and professional arenas.
If you give your time to do SMS Analysis, you will find insights for effective promotion. Remember to test your skills, mindset, and your present situation. It will cause a desired and satisfied promotion opportunity.
Good luck and wish you the best of success.
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(This Article was first published on medium.com) (Also above is a brief extract from my bestselling book, ‘Promotions Secrets You Never Knew’.)