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Working Worlds: What To Do After A Promotion

For most out there in the working world, a promotion is the end goal. The highlight of a career and the epitome of working successfully, with the recognition that such work outputs deserve. However, in most cases, very little thought goes into what happens after you’re promotion. Increased workloads and a heightened sense of pressure and expectation can engulf even the most capable individual out there, leaving them feeling out of their depth slightly.

We spoke to several leading experts in this field hoping for their insights on the best course of actions moving forward for those who have just been promoted.

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#1 Keep Going!

Post-promotion should be a time to really roll up your sleeves. I know it took a lot of effort to get there in the first place, but learning a new structure, people, software, and processes is almost another job on top of the one you'll be doing. Stay focused, put forth even more effort than when you were going for the promotion, and then ease up only when you have everything running smoothly.

Contributor: Nicholas Kinports from lonely brand

#2 Account For Yourself

Before accepting a promotion, be certain to ask for a detailed explanation of your new responsibilities, who you're working under, who will be working under you, what your deliverables are, and what metrics you'll be judged by. Also ask if you'll be responsible temporarily for any of your previous tasks from your old position.

These questions are necessary to ascertain what your formula for success should be and will allow you to raise any objections if you believe you'll be stretched too thin. Once you've accepted these new responsibilities, be sure to put them into writing for yourself to hold yourself accountable.

Contributor: Nicolas Straut from fundera

#3 Listen

The first month should be about learning. Too often people get into a new role and they’re excited to make a mark, to prove themselves in some way. But, this is a mistake. Leadership requires understanding the big picture as well as all the small nuances of the organization or department. By observing for the first month, listening to the people around you, taking in as much information as possible BEFORE taking action you set yourself up to succeed in the new role.

Contributor: Cynthia Corsetti, CPCC, SPHR from cynthia corsetti

#4 Understand Your Team

Have one on one meetings with each person and make it a valid conversation. Find out how you, as the leader, can best support each of them. A leadership role is also a support role. It isn’t just about standing in front of the group and saying follow me. It’s about growing and developing each individual on the team while furthering the goals of the group and company. Setting a solid foundation from the first day with a new team will create a much more productive future.

Contributor: Cynthia Corsetti, CPCC, SPHR from cynthia corsetti 

#5 Blind Spots

Take an honest look at your own strengths and weaknesses by reflecting on your career this far. What would you change, what have you learned. Make a conscious decision of who you want to be, and how you want to show up in this new role. A promotion isn’t the final destination, it’s a place for more growth so you can ultimately reach your full potential. And when you reach your full potential, keep asking yourself, where can I grow from here?

Contributor: Cynthia Corsetti, CPCC, SPHR from cynthia corsetti

#6 Hone Your Speaking Skills

Senior staff are often expected to chair meetings give presentations to larger groups. Moreover, they are expected to speak with authority. Therefore, this is a great time to work on your public speaking skills. Workshops, one-on-one coaching and even rehearsing in front of friends/family can be really helpful. I've found that as clients build confidence in this area, they also become more comfortable in their roles.

Contributor: James Evans from vensa coaching

#7 Quick Wins

When you first get promoted, keep an eye out for any quick wins you can achieve straight away; this will boost your confidence and also show your boss that their faith in you is well justified.

Whether these quick wins come in the form of having one-to-one meetings with each of your new team, to determine their strengths and weaknesses, or having a reshuffle of the department to streamline the process and save time, each position has various opportunities for improvement.

Contributor: Steve Pritchard from bensherman

#8 Begin Your Networking

The struggle to get promoted can be a big one, but new obstacles are presented once you actually get the promotion. One of the key parts of succeeding in your new role is communicating with your employees working under you that you care about them while also demanding respect from them. It’s also good to network with those working in the levels above you, both so that they can give you advice and also so that they see you excelling in your leadership role and consider you for future promotions as well.

Contributor: Nate Masterson from maple holistics

#9 Receptive And Leading From The Front

One of the first things you should do after a promotion is find out what every direct report on your team cares about. Speak with each person one-on-one and take detailed notes. Ask them what they feel the company does well, what they feel the company could improve upon, and what they feel is the most impactful thing you can do to make their job better.

This exercise establishes that you are (1) receptive to the needs of your team, (2) willing to take action on their behalf, and (3) personally responsible for building a great place to work. As a result, your team will be more likely to share ideas in the future and should begin emulating your behavior. In fact, if your direct reports have teams of their own, you should explicitly expect them to do the same thing you're doing.

Contributor: Dave Lane, CEO from inventiv

#10 Those Looked Over

Before you jump in, remember, to be successful in any job, you need supportive colleagues. The last thing you need is to have the person who didn’t get promoted sabotaging you.

One step people often miss in a new job is engaging the people who were passed over. Rather than dance around it, deal with it directly. Tell them, I know you wanted this job, I’m sure it was a tough decision. I’d like to be able to count on your support.

Contributor: Lisa Earle McLeod from mcleod and more

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Written by James Metcalfe

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