The most important element of anyone’s career is to keep progressing professionally. The two key factors are ensuring your work develops your skills and helps you reach your personal goals. Promotion is one way of maintaining upward momentum.
Importance of image
Many people find themselves in a career rut because they operate under the widely-held misconception that hard work and loyalty are the primary routes to promotion. Although these qualities are a significant part of the equation, they will count for little if they are not noticed by your firm's managers. For this reason, your professional image is of the utmost importance when you are aiming for a promotion.
Putting to work a strategy to get yourself noticed can be done subtly and doesn’t necessarily require being sycophantic – a sure way to alienate you from colleagues. Most obviously it is important to look the part, so dress smartly in line with the company culture. How your boss perceives you will have an impact on how they measure your performance so a smart image can give you an edge. Find out if anything is putting them under pressure and ask if you can help. If your work directly impacts upon the boss in a positive manner, they will come to rely on you and you will become increasingly indispensable to them and the company.
Be pro-active in your work practices
Look for specific work that is recognisably beneficial to the company, and get onto training programmes that will serve both you and the company. Convey enthusiasm for your job in all day-to-day actions; in the mornings arrive a little early to plan the day's work and never rush from your desk the second the clock strikes ‘close of play’. If possible take on extra responsibility to demonstrate that you can do them! These steps will put you in the shop window as far as your employer is concerned and the next time a promotion is up-and-coming you will have forced your way into consideration.
Feedback
Try and get feedback regularly and always have a fixed date with your employer to assess your performance and progress. Ensure you are prepared for appraisals – or more informal meetings with the boss – by recording everything you do that has an effect on the company's goals. In this way you can confidently discuss your performance with your employer with tangible evidence backing you up. Monitor the influence you have on the actions – no matter how small – that make or save money.
The ability to secure a promotion rests largely on your self-awareness; understand what your employer's needs are and how they see you. Self-promotion is the key to your career success.