While performance matters, promotions are just as influenced by visibility, relationships, and strategic communication.
If you really want a promotion, then you need to begin to explore how you can contribute to your department or organization’s growth and development in new and creative ways.
Ask yourself whether your contributions are clearly understood by your manager, especially in a remote or hybrid environment. How often do you proactively connect with your manager and colleagues? Are you engaged in cross-functional projects, employee resource groups, or other organizational initiatives?
Here are a few ways to stand out:
- Practice thoughtful self-advocacy: Share progress updates, highlight wins, and ensure your contributions are recognized as a part of your regular communication. Being intentional about visibility helps others understand the value you bring to the team and the organization.
- Take on additional projects: To increase your impact and visibility, look for opportunities to take on additional projects or responsibilities that align with business priorities.
- Network: Networking has long been recognized as a key factor in career advancement. Research consistently shows that personal and professional connections influence access to opportunities. This underscores how essential it is to build strong internal networks and can prove influential in new growth opportunities.
- Develop relationships with decision makers: Internal relationships and networks play a meaningful role in promotion decisions, often more than organizations formally acknowledge. First, prioritize developing a strong, positive relationship with your current manager. Understanding your manager’s expectations, priorities, and leadership style — and consistently delivering results — creates a foundation for growth and future opportunities.
Next, focus on department leaders and cross-functional partners. Learn about your department’s priorities and challenges and look for ways your skills can contribute to broader team success. Volunteering for stretch assignments, projects, or new initiatives increases visibility and demonstrates commitment and interest in the organization’s priorities.
Employees should also build relationships with organizational leaders and influencers by understanding the company’s overall goals and strategy. Maintaining a growth mindset and aligning your development with organizational needs positions you as someone invested in long-term success.
- Leverage mentorships and peer groups: Participate in mentors and peer networks, especially through formal mentoring programs if available. Connecting with individuals in roles or departments you’re interested in helps expand perspective, build support, and explore potential career paths.
Lean in to Upskilling and Reskilling Opportunities
It’s important to find ways to confirm your talent and experience. Are you keeping up with what you need to evolve your skills, or have you realized where you are is no longer on the same career path you wish to follow? Here are some things to prioritize:
- Mind the Gap By Building Skills For the Future: The competitive job market is requiring individuals to bring specific skills to fill the gap in their ever-changing workforce. As you reflect on who you are and where you want to go professionally, consider how adding new skills can open new opportunities for future growth.
The fast pace of technological change means lifelong learning is no longer a suggestion but a necessity for career resilience. Companies are starting to implement relevant skills assessments as they make notable commitments to skills-based hiring. Looking forward, employers desire to weigh proficiency in a greater way than formal education in hiring and promotion decisions. It is no longer just the degree, but the specific skills targeted to the outcome that matter.
Plan to create a continual learning mindset; be ready and always willing to learn. And in addition to seeking ways to improve your specific skills in the career fields you are targeting, focus on how best to articulate your knowledge and expertise throughout the job search.
- Make Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Your Strategic Partner: With the advent of Generative AI tapping into all aspects of our lives, we can either be an ostrich and “hide our heads” in the shifting sands of change — or we can embrace it.
Today we must seek ways to improve our knowledge and understanding of how AI works within our current job/field. Talk to your manager about participating in any workplace initiatives that are offering classes and/or workshops. Consider taking additional classes or educational programs; a great starting point might be through your professional organization. Learn how AI can increase your productivity and assist you to become more productive and add value for now and in the future. Recognize we must be adaptive and flexible to continue to grow as the world of work adapts and changes its needs and goals.
Ask for a Promotion
Approach your manager about promotion goals through open, ongoing communication rather than a single conversation. Ideally, this happens during your regular one-on-one meetings where professional and departmental goals are discussed. These conversations allow you to share where you want to grow and receive feedback on readiness and expectations.
If regular check-ins are not already in place, proactively request a meeting to discuss career development. During the conversation, you should clearly discuss your career goals, ask what skills or experiences are required for advancement, and seek guidance on opportunities such as upskilling, additional education, or taking on stretch projects.
Understanding your manager’s expectations and aligning your personal goals with team and organizational needs helps position you for future growth/promotion opportunities.
Preparation Pays Off
Timing and strategic planning are key for understanding how to increase your opportunity to move toward the next level in your job. Start planning early by working with your manager to learn and perform at the next level before expecting a promotion, once you’re consistently succeeding in your current role. This means you are demonstrating the skills, behaviors, and impact expected at the next level — not just meeting current responsibilities.
Preparation includes understanding the expectations of the next role, proactively taking on higher-level work, and regularly discussing growth goals with your manager. Learning how your organization approaches promotions and investing in relevant training or upskilling can further strengthen readiness.
While promotion opportunities vary by organization and circumstances, staying prepared for changes — such as new initiatives or staffing changes — can create earlier opportunities. Although no timeline can be guaranteed, consistently operating at the next level and aligning closely with your manager significantly increases the likelihood of advancement and future growth.
