Appraisal time is nearby. Some will get promotions some will not. There are many things, apart from your performance at work, which play a crucial role in deciding promotions. You need to adopt the mannerism, attitude and managerial traits of the position above you. If you already look as if you have been promoted, chances are you will be.
I am going to discuss certain basic factors which also matter to get the promotion at workplace. The idea is that you have to remain one step ahead of your approach. You have to little proactive to get the right approach/attitude/behaviour of one above position which you are aspiring. What are the factors and how they appeal to people who will take decision or give recommendation:
The way you dress:
When I was an executive, I dressed like one. When I was ready and wanted to become a manager I studied what managers wore. Business suit, necktie, neatly combed hair, shining shoes etc. There is a style for every job. You can choose to dress like that job. Then it will help you to get that job.
I had also been in the interview panel for quite some time. I came across to many candidates and sometimes wondered why people are not serious about their dressing? Crumbled suit, wrinkled shirt, uncombed hair, unpolished shoes. No one in the panel wanted to employ people like these, no matter how smart, knowledgeable and efficient they are.
Whatever job you are doing your focus should be on the next position up. If you have your foucus on that position then you must be knowing who has that job now. Study them as what they wear, how smartly they are dressed? What you can learn/copy in terms of dressing sense? Follow them and be like them when it comes to dressing. Because it may not be easy to start a new job and start to wear a new style, at the same time.
The way you talk:
How does your boss talk? Its not about the copying accent or pronunciation. But its all about how they communicate. What management/technical/ jargons/quotes/terms they use? What is their point of view/perspective during communication? You might speak from a worker’s point of view, whereas they will speak from organisation’s point of view. You will say ‘I’, they will say ‘we’. This is what you need to follow.
The more senior you go the less likely you spend time in gossips, chattering, discussing personal life, serial etc. In fact they are more thoughtful, focused, calculative, sensible and relevant while communicative.
The way you act:
Now when you are one step ahead in dressing and talking, its time to act one step ahead. Try to notice the non verbal communication of your seniors, their attitude, behaviour, how they speak to their seniors and juniors, how they entertain customers, even how they walk, how they stand up – anything they do. Then absorb the best things they have.
You have to be confident and mature to observe how your boss/seniors are different from you. So that you can analyse what will suit you to follow and grow.
Besides the exterior, one must be strong and confident from inside. Mentally you should be geared up to assume new roles and challenges. You should make small changes in your thinking process as demonstrated below.
The way you think:
The higher you go you have less time to waste. You have to think expediently. You don’t have time to waste thinking on trivial issue like:
This assignment may stretch my working hours. - Will this affect my holiday plans?
- Will I be appreciated for this work?
- I have to work from home also
- I have to come office during weekends also
Instead you should think:
- Will it be better for my team?
- Will this add value to my organization?
- Will it make our customers happy?
- Will it save working hours of mine and my colleagues?
Bosses never think ‘I’ they always think about ‘We’. And this is the key. Broaden your perspective. So that you can think form your organisation’s perspective and not focused on your comfort zone. This is the thinking like a boss and not like a mere worker.
It may not be easy to follow the above mentioned tips consistently. It requires strength, will power, determination, honesty, courage, experience, attitude, dedication and devotion. I am sure you have all these qualities. Now its just about to start practicing along with following above tips and this will automatically qualify you for the promotion.
All the best!
To read this and other workplace related posts- TalentEquity.in/blog
Regards,
Sanjay